Local News Archives for 2022-03

New Case Numbers are Down Again in Manitoba But Up in Saskatchewan.

In their weekly update Manitoba public health reported 979 confirmed cases of COVID-19 for the week of March 20th to 26th bringing the test positivity rate to 13.9 percent.  This was a decrease of 1244 from the previous week.  Of the new cases 129 were in the Northern health region. During the week 111 people in the province were admitted to hospital with 16 admitted to intensive care. The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 135,214. In all of Manitoba 82.6 percent of residents have been partially vaccinated and 78.2 percent are fully vaccinated.

             

Saskatchewan health reported 1196 new cases confirmed for the week of March 20th to 26th, 34 percent higher than the number for the previous week at 894.  As of March 30th 340 people were in hospital up 19 from the previous report with 19 in intensive care up two.  Far North East reported 31 new cases up from eight the previous week.  As of March 26th among people 18 years and older 51.3 percent had received at least one booster shot.

The Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation has released a call for proposals to address homelessness in rural and remote areas in the province.

The organization’s Reaching Home Coordinator Laura Wallis talks about one of the two streams the Corporation is administering which is called the Rural and Remote Homelessness Stream.  She explains the Rural and Remote Funding Stream is for projects across Manitoba that take place outside of Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson and they can be on or off reserve and the reason Thompson is excluded from Rural and Remote is because they have their own designated Stream.

 

There is also an Indigenous Homelessness Stream, which is funding for projects delivered by Indigenous organizations to address the needs of the off-reserve homeless Indigenous population.

 

The deadline to send in proposals for either stream is April 13th.  More information is available at www.bnrc.ca and click on homelessness prevention.

 

The Lions Club Has a New Executive.

At their meeting last week members of the Flin Flon Lions Club elected their new executive.  Joe Bradford will serve as President for the 2022-23 term while Janice Cassidy is Past President.  Vice-Presidents include Ken Tetreault, Neal Dimick and Doreen Gabler.  Debbie Kuzub continues as Secretary and John Kuzub as Treasurer. Doreen Gabler is Lion Tamer, Jan Nikkel Tail Twister, one year Directors Lisa Tower and Neal Dimik, two year Directors Nancy Collacott and Jim Cassidy, Club Membership Kristina Tetreault, LCIF Coordinator Joe McCormick and Club Service Chair Debbie Kuzub.             

The new executive takes office July 1st.

 

Hudbay has released its annual mineral reserve and resource update.

Hudbay President and CEO Peter Kukielski reports they have continued to grow their copper and gold mineral reserves and resources through successful exploration in Peru, Snow Lake and Arizona. He notes while they already have a solid production growth profile for many years to come their exploration efforts over the past year have been successful in replacing what they have mined adding reserves to their life of mine plans and expanding their  resource base to position them for additional long-term reserves grow

The report states as a result of exploration success in 2021 additional mineral reserves were identified at Lalor and the 1901 deposit which are expected to extend the life of the Snow Lake operations by one year until 2038 maintaining the 17 year mine life. 

Hudbay also reported in connection with the depletion of reserves at Triple Seven Hudbay will be commencing the closure of the Flin Flon complex including decommissioning the Triple Seven mine in June after 17 years of steady operations and Flin Flon Zinc Plant.  The Flin Flon mill and tailings facilities will be put on care and maintenance with exploration continuing to possibly reprocess the Flin Flon tailings in the future.

Canada Post Has Issued an Important Reminder for Dog Owners.

In a release Canada Post states every day their employees deliver to millions of homes across Canada.  An estimated 36 percent of these households have dogs and their delivery agents encounter them every day when delivering mail and parcels.  They point out the risk of dog related incidents increases in the spring with school vacations like this week in Manitoba when people are more likely to be at home. They note it’s impossible for their delivery agents to know how any dog will react when they approach a home with dog incidents ranging from threatening encounters to being attacked and bitten.

             

Canada Post reminds dog owners to not open the door during deliveries or allow your dog to approach their employees suggesting keeping them in another room at the time of delivery.  They add they also see dogs wandering in neighborhoods which can cause further anxiety so make sure your dog is restrained and not roaming free.

Crime Statistics Dropped in Some Categories in the North Last Month.

 Manitoba RCMP report during February 2022 over February 2021 the North District reported increases in crime against persons and property with decreases in all other occurrence groups. There was a minimal decrease from 721 to 705 in common police activities with the largest decrease in wellbeing checks down from 136 to 123 with the largest increase from 27 to 35 in suspicious person, vehicle or property reports.  In crimes against person there was an overall increase from 660 to 706, assaults increased from 476 to 546 and offences related to death increased from one to four.  Crimes against property increased from 665 to 994 with arson reports down from four to two, mischief up from 543 to 848, fraud up from 14 to 16, theft over five thousand dollars up from 20 to 27 and theft under five thousand up from 49 to 57.  And drug enforcement was down from 39 to 28 with possession down from 12 to one.

Funding for Food Security is Being Increased in Northern Manitoba.

The Manitoba government is providing one time funding of 193 thousand dollars to the Northern Healthy Foods Initiative and its five regional partners.  Northern Relations Minister Alan Lagimodiere states the funding is to help alleviate acute food security pressures in northern Manitoba due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

             

The funding will be allocated to the five community based regional Northern Healthy Food Initiative partners being the Bayline Regional Roundtable, Four Arrows Regional Health Authority, Frontier School Division, Food Matters Manitoba and the Northern Association of Community Councils. 

             

NHFI program partners determine specific funding allocations enabling decisions to be made by those who are most closely involved in program delivery.  Funds are typically used to purchase seeds, soils and gardening supplies for spring programming as well as to support acceleration and grow projects that work to enhance food security in the north.

 

The Saskatchewan Government is Supporting Digital Literacy for Job Seekers.

The Government of Saskatchewan has announced an investment of 880 thousand dollars for the Digital Literacy for Job Seekers Initiative. Career Training Minister Jeremy Harrison says this initiative helps individuals with limited experience acquire the digital skills they need to enter and compete in our labor market.

             

Job seekers will complete an assessment to determine their individualized learning needs and will be trained on basic digital literacy skills and use of digital devices as well as developing skills to support job search efforts such as resume and cover letter writing, developing a portfolio and online job search.  To be eligible individuals must be legally entitled to work in Saskatchewan, at least 16 years of age, unemployed or underemployed and seeking employment.  For information on the program and eligibility contact SaskJobs Career Services directly at 1-833-613-0485 or careerservices@gov.sk.ca.

A Balanced Diet is Essential for Good Health.

As Canadians continue to be hit with higher food costs a northern dietician says it’s crucial to maintain a balanced diet to help prevent negative health outcomes in the future.

 

The Thompson Clinic’s Kathleen Hodgins says food insecurity is one of the main nutritional issues she sees in the north, adding that affordability can be a barrier for those looking to better their diets.

 

She adds that not enough people in the country eat the right amount of fruits and veggies they need especially as the consumption of processed foods goes up.

 

 Hodgins shares some advice on what people can do to improve their diets and combat higher food costs. She says we should be looking at whole grains, more plant proteins, they’re the cheaper food and just healthier for us.  She adds food waste is a huge waste of money and looking at using your leftovers, cooking smaller batches if you need to if you’re throwing out food, using those fruits and vegetables before they are expired, those things are going to be coming more and more important as the food dollar rises.

 

Hodgins encourages those who are interested in consulting a dietician to do so.

Daily COVID Case Number Updates Are Coming to an End in Manitoba.

Manitoba public health reported 153 new cases of COVID-19 this afternoon bringing the five day test positivity rate to 12.9 percent.  Of the new cases 100 are in Winnipeg with much lower numbers in other regions including seven in Northern health where 843 cases are active including 16 in Flin Flon Snow Lake Cranberry Portage Sherridon, 35 in Thompson Mystery Lake and 39 in The Pas OCN Kelsey district.  Of the total 134,907 reported cases in the province 3830 are active, 129,338 people have recovered and 359 are in hospital with 19 in intensive care.

             

This is the final daily update being issued by Manitoba public health.  Next week they join Saskatchewan in issuing weekly summaries on Thursdays.

 

Kids Can Have Fun and Learn at NorVa Next Week.

          

The NorVa Centre is offering special classes during spring break next week for anyone over the age of eight.  On Tuesday they offer Cool Crumple Dye and Hot Wax from 1 to 4 with a fee of 25 dollars where Jan Modler and her team will help you create a design to wax on to your fabric.  On Wednesday they offer Blue Bird of Happiness from 1 to 4 for a fee of 25 dollars where you can hand build with clay with Tami Martin and on Thursday they offer Ukrainian Easter Egg Decorating from 1:30 to 3:30 for a fee of 20 dollars where you can learn the traditional symbols used in the creation of Ukrainian Pysanka using wax and dye on eggs.

 For more details or to register contact the NorVa Centre at 177 Green Street, call 204-687-4237 or email norvacentre@gmail.com.

 

Two Requests Were Referred to Committee by Creighton Town Council at Wednesdays Meeting.

The Town Council of Creighton has received a letter from Gatlin Church on behalf of PBCN Junior Hockey proposing a partnership for an expansion team to play out of the Creighton Sportex next fall.  The proposed team would play in the Keystone Junior Hockey League.  The team is expected to be voted into the League at the KJHL spring AGM.  Council has referred the request to Committee with more information to come.

             

Council also received a request for sponsorship supporting the 46th annual Northern Juried Art Show this June.  A financial or in kind donation would be used for a variety of different sponsorship options.  Council also referred this request to Committee.

             

And a letter of thanks was received from Inclusion Saskatchewan for the Town’s sponsorship of 500 dollars for the upcoming Decision Making Workshop which will be held this October at the Rocky View Resort.

Reported Active Cases Have Dropped in Northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Manitoba public health reported 209 new cases of COVID-19 this afternoon bringing the five day test positivity rate to 13.1 percent.  Of the news cases 95 are in Winnipeg followed by 48 in Northern health where 847 cases are active including 16 in Flin Flon Snow Lake Cranberry Portage Sherridon, 35 in Thompson Mystery Lake and 39 in The Pas OCN Kelsey district.  Of the total 134,759 reported cases in the province 3689 are active, 129,331 people have recovered and 369 are in hospital with 18 in intensive care.

             

In their weekly report Saskatchewan health reported 895 new cases for the week of March 13th to 19th which is about eight percent higher than the number of new cases the week before. As of March 23rd 306 people were in hospital up six from the previous report and 19 in intensive care up one.  The Far North East Zone reported eight confirmed cases down two.       

 

Mineral Exploration Continues in Northern Saskatchewan.

Having recently conducted an airborne magnetic survey of its Irving Lake Project 100 kilometers northeast of La Ronge SKRR Exploration has moved that survey on to their Father Lake Project 40 kilometers northeast of Stony Rapids.  This is a nickel copper exploration property in north central Saskatchewan and is comprised of nine mineral claims totaling just under 48 hundred hectares.

             

The Father Lake claims overlie four magnetic sulphide bodies hosting nickel copper mineralization within a series of northeast trending norite sills.  The mineralized zones were drill defined by Stongbow Exploration in 2008-2009.  Better intersections returned 2.36 percent nickel and 0.26 percent copper over 0.5 meters and 0.26 percent nickel and 0.07 percent copper over 14.6 meters which still need to be confirmed by a qualified person but form the basis for ongoing work at the Father Lake Project.

 

Covid Protocols and the School Day Were Part of the Flin Flon School Board Meeting.

At the meeting earlier this week the Board discussed current COVID protocols for the Division.  Anyone with symptoms should stay home for five days and not return to school until symptoms have improved. Anyone who tests positive with no symptoms should also isolate for five days from the date of their test.  A well fitting well made mask should be worn if you have contact with others while you are unwell.

             

In other news an altered end of the school day proposal has been brought forward.  A link to the survey has been shared with parents.  If you did not receive the link and want to share your thoughts contact your School Administrator for assistance.

Only One New Case Was Reported in Our Northern Region.

Manitoba public health reported 137 new cases of COVID-19 this afternoon bringing the five day test positivity rate to 13.1 percent.  Of the new cases 73 were in Winnipeg with lower numbers in other regions including one in the Northern region where 1249 cases are active including 25 in Flin Flon Snow Lake Cranberry Portage Sherridon, 57 in Thompson Mystery Lake and 83 in The Pas OCN Kelsey district.  Of the total 134,554 reported cases 5042 are active, 127,777 people have recovered and 387 are in hospital up seven with 22 in intensive care down two.  As of Monday 43 cases of the Omicron variant BA2 have been confirmed in Manitoba.

You Can Be Part of the Alzheimer Society Board.

The Alzheimer Society of Manitoba is looking for two board members.  Their Communications Coordinator Daniela Wenger says they are looking for people across Manitoba with a diverse background and experiences to help the Alzheimer Society with the board and to help guide the organization to help support families living with dementia across the province.  She explains you can head to their website at www.alzheimer.mb.ca noting they have a full listing up there right now as to what they are looking for and interested qualifying applicants can forward a cover letter with a resume stating how they can best help the Alzheimer Society.

             

The deadline for applications is April 22nd if you are interested.

 

The Canadian Liver Foundations Just Ask campaign provides people the opportunity to learn more about liver health in the country.

The initiative is part of their annual Liver Health Month campaign.

 

Spokesperson Nem Maksimovic explains the Just Ask campaign gives Canadians an opportunity to ask patients, caregivers, experts and Canadian Liver Foundation staff anything they’d like to know about liver disease and this could be questions about transplantation, clinical trials, nutrition, mental health and anything in between.  He says their goal in this campaign is to reach more people affected by liver disease and introduce them to the CLF while showcasing the education and of course the support they have to offer as an organization.

 

Maksimovic says around a quarter of Canadians are affected by liver disease in their lifetimes.

 

To submit a question visit www.liver.ca/just ask.

 

Case Numbers are Holding Fairly Steady in Manitoba.

Manitoba public health reported 118 new cases of COVID-19 this afternoon bringing the five day test positivity rate to 13.5 percent.  Of the new cases 55 are in Winnipeg with lower numbers in other regions including 31 in Northern health where 1253 cases are active including 26 in Flin Flon Snow Lake Cranberry Portage Sherridon, 60 in Thompson Mystery Lake and 83 in The Pas OCN Kelsey district.  Of the total 134,417 reported cases in the province 4913 are active, 127,773 people have recovered and 380 are in hospital with 24 in intensive care.

A Celebration of the World Day of Prayer is Coming Up in Flin Flon Friday.

World Day of Prayer is an international inter-church event that began about100 years ago bridging social, geographic and political barriers in over 170 countries.  Coordinator for the local event Betty Fehr invites men, women and children of all ages to attend as they celebrate the theme I Know The Plans I Have For You from Jeremiah 29:11.  She explains the women of England, Wales and Northern Ireland have prepared the service this year.  She adds we are encourage to reflect on the changes and challenges faced by these countries as they have evolved independently and collectively over hundreds of years and the writing team has shared the injustice obstacles that immigrant women to the UK have met, the selfishness of Britain as a conquering nation and the hopes for the future.

             

The celebration is being held Friday night at 7 at Northminster United Church at 250 Bracken Street.  Offerings received through the World Day of Prayer transform prayers into action in the form of project grants empowering women and children in our own country and throughout the world.

 

A Canada Post Foundation is Accepting Applications for Grants.

The Canada Post Community Foundation is now accepting grant applications for 2022. Canadian charities, schools and community organizations that strive to make a difference in the lives of children and youth up to the age of 21 can apply for grants up to25 thousand dollars.  The Foundation welcomes applications from all communities across the country and values local grassroots initiatives, including literacy and language programs, youth outreach services, programs supporting Indigenous youth, gender diversity programs and arts and recreation projects.

This year, the Foundation has introduced a new annual Indigenous Truth and Reconciliation Signature Grant valued at 50 thousand dollars. The Grant will support educational initiatives for children and youth that increase the understanding of Indigenous culture and foster meaningful conversations in the spirit of Reconciliation. Local and regional groups that represent First Nation, Métis, Inuit or Urban Indigenous people and that offer programs supporting these communities are invited to apply.

Applications will be open until April 8th and can be submitted through the Community Foundation website at canadapost.ca/community.

New Case Numbers are Low Across Manitoba.

Manitoba public health reported 77 new cases of COVID-19 this afternoon bringing the five day test positivity rate to 14.3 percent.  Of the new cases 41 were in Winnipeg with lower numbers in other regions including six in Northern health where there are 1222 active cases including 25 in Flin Flon Snow Lake Cranberry Portage Sherridon, 59 in Thompson Mystery Lake and 82 in The Pas OCN Kelsey district.  Of the total 134,313 reported cases 4803 are active and 388 people are in hospital with 22 in intensive care.

The Flin Flon Denare Beach Creighton Economic Development Commission is Looking for Someone Interested in Working in Tourism.

Regional Economic Development Manager Brian Lin says they continue to look for a Regional Tourism Coordinator to help promote our three communities.  He explains our region is going through a transformation period but without a doubt the transformation will bring forward opportunities and it is really on this basis they believe firmly that our region certainly has full potential in the tourism industry with a lot of jobs and development opportunities but this certainly will require a tourism product to be structured and implementation to be coordinated with support of course from a wide spectrum of stakeholders in a very cohesive manner and the Tourism Coordinator is expected to be this focal point to really ensure the realization of these benefits for our communities.

             

The deadline to apply remains open and a description of the position and how to apply can be found on the City of Flin Flon Facebook page or under Job Postings at www.flinflononline.com. You can email your application to fdcredc@gmail.com.

 

Saskatchewan Ice Fishing Shelters Have to go This Month.

The Ministry of the Environment reminds you that ice fishing season is winding down.  That means all ice fishing shelters in areas north of Saskatchewan highway 16 must be removed by March 31st.  They note spring weather is unpredictable and it can be easy to over estimate how much time you have to safely remove your ice shelter.  Every year shelters end up abandoned on the melting ice posing a danger to boaters, water skiers and others enjoying the lakes and leftover debris can also wash up on shore causing litter and potential environmental hazards.

             

Ice fishing shelters must be removed from the ice surface and transported away along with litter and left over debris.  Shelters not removed may result in the owner’s prosecution with the structure and its contents confiscated.  All shelters require the owners name, address and phone number marked clearly on the outside. They also warn anyone traveling on the ice should take extreme caution and watch for indicators of unsafe conditions such as slush, thermal cracks and pressure ridges.

             

A Thin Ice Advisory Has Been Issued as the Weather Warms up.

The Hydrologic Forecast Center of Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure is warning of hazardous ice conditions on rivers, lakes and drainage ditches as the spring thaw begins. They note while ice may appear to be normal winter ice it may be very thin and no longer support people and objects such as snowmobiles and vehicles. They add the quality of river ice within communities is also uncertain.  They caution snowmobilers, skiers and others not to venture onto rivers and lakes due to the dangers of falling through, thin ice is often covered by snow which produces weak spots due to its insulating effect, areas of fast flowing water tend to have thinner ice than other areas which may not be visible and people living near waterways should prevent children and pets from wandering onto the ice.

 

Hospital and Northern Case Numbers Have Gone Down Again in Manitoba.

Manitoba public health reported 189 new cases of COVID-19 this afternoon bringing the five day test positivity rate to 14 percent.  Of the new cases 90 are in Winnipeg with again much lower numbers in other regions including 20 in Northern Health where 1094 cases are active including 24 in Flin Flon Snow Lake Cranberry Portage Sherridon, 56 in Thompson Mystery Lake and 80 in The Pas OCN Kelsey district.  Of the total 133,928 cases reported in the province 4403 are active, 127,799 people have recovered and 382 are in hospital with 19 in intensive care.

 

New Grants are Available to Support Accessibility Projects for Manitoba Municipalities, Non-profits and Businesses.

The Manitoba government is calling for applications for grants up to 50 thousand dollars from the Manitoba Accessibility Fund for organizations that will promote accessibility and remove barriers for people with disabilities.  Applications must target the three accessibility standards under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act affecting customer service, employment or information and communications. Eligible applicants must have been in operation one year prior to application and include non-profit organizations, local businesses or corporations based in Manitoba providing services to Manitobans that are registered with the Companies Office, on-reserve businesses and organizations that meet other eligibility requirements, municipalities and local authorities such as planning districts and Northern Affairs Community Councils and universities, colleges and school divisions.

             

For information visit www.accessibilitymb.ca.  The application deadline is April 15th.

 

A Breakfast Challenge Has Been Issued.

With March being Nutrition Month a dietician based in The Pas has come up with a breakfast challenge to help Manitobans to take the most important meal of the day more seriously.

 

Oribim Kingson with the Bliss Counselling and Wellness Centre explains all they want is for people to commit to eating breakfast for five days in a week so something healthy, something nutritious, something simple, it doesn’t have to be over the top just because we know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it really sets the tone for your food choices for the rest of the day, it sets the tone for if you’re going to be snacking later at night, it’s responsible for weight management and even for kids how they perform at school and if you’re a worker how you perform at work.

 

Kingson shares some tips on how people can make that one change to their routine including eating within the first hour or two of waking up, prepping breakfast the night before, or grabbing a piece of fruit and a protein such as peanut butter, greek yogurt, or cheese.

 

Active COVID Cases are Down Again in the Northern Manitoba Region With Hospitalizations Down in Saskatchewan.

Manitoba public health reported 247 new cases of COVID-19 this afternoon bringing the five day test positivity rate to 14.3 percent.  Of the new cases 99 are in Winnipeg with much lower numbers in other regions except for 103 in the Northern region where active cases are down to 1071 including 24 in Flin Flon Snow Lake Cranberry Portage Sherridon, 57 in Thompson Mystery Lake and 80 in The Pas OCN Kelsey district.  Of the total 133,745 reported cases in the province 4213 are active, 127,809 people have recovered and 395 are in hospital with 17 in intensive care.

             

 In their weekly report Saskatchewan health reported 832 new cases were confirmed the week of March 6th to 12th about four fifths of the new cases reported the week before. As of March 16th 299 people are in hospital down 40 from the previous report with 18 in intensive care down six from the previous report.  Ten new cases have been confirmed in the Far Northeast zone.

The City of Flin Flon is Proposing to Increase Fairness in Taxation and Competitiveness Through the Use of the Special Service Levy.

 The Special service levy would cover fire and protective services as well as recreation support services and snow removal and dust control. In her presentation last night Treasurer Lyn Brown noted the special service levy is based on actual budgeted costs to the city so it is to be apportioned equally to each property and the special service levy expenses removed from the mill rate which is based on the assessed value of property. She explained the proposed total special service levy value for the year is 894 dollars for the property tax roll and just over 395 dollars for the business tax roll with the proposed municipal mill rate going down from 25.97 in 2021 to 16.88 in 2022 so your taxes are not going up by 894 dollars per year although you may see an increase or decrease based on your assessment. Brown noted this summer they plan to complete efficiency studies on all services provided by the municipality.

             

The Levy still requires approval from the province.

             

The presentation is available on the City of Flin Flon website.

 

Foran Mining is Moving Down With Their Mine Development West of Flin Flon.

Foran Mining Corporation released a project update for its pre-development program at the McIlvenna Bay Project 65 kilometers west of Flin Flon. To date Foran has completed work on the boxcut, ground support, as well as the blasting and excavation of the first ten meters of planned advancement on the exploration decline.  The construction and placement of the ore and waste pad is 95 percent complete and development of the containment pond is 40 percent complete.  The ore and waste pad and the containment pond are expected to be completed by the end of April.  Foran has also energized the existing distribution line and commissioned a temporary workshop that will support the ongoing exploration decline program.  The next two months are expected to focus on completion of the ore and waste pad, the containment pond and advancement of the decline as they target the extraction of a bulk sample. Approximately 850 meters of ramp development is required to access the deposit where a single 100 meter cross cut will be developed into the hanging wall to facilitate the bulk sample collection.

 

Manitobans Should Respect Other Peoples Choices.

Manitoba Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin says Manitobans have been faced with a lot of challenges over the past two years but the public health orders have now been replaced by recommendations.  He says it’s time to take steps towards healing.  He states we see businesses now, some choosing to keep the proof of vaccine other leaving that in the past, some people continue to wear masks others will give that up but for many these choices aren’t easy but we sure can make it easier on each other if we show some respect, kindness, compassion for other people’s decisions as we navigate this transition period.               

             

Roussin praised the public health team for their work in the past and in continuing to monitor Covid-19.

             

Manitoba public health reported 245 new cases of COVID-19 this afternoon.  Of the new cases 34 are in Northern health where 1642 cases are active including 37in Flin Flon Snow Lake Cranberry Portage Sherridon, 82 in Thompson Mystery Lake and 110 in The Pas OCN Kelsey district.

 

The Flin Flon Fire Department Had a Fairly Quiet January.

Flin Flon City Council received the Fire Chiefs report for January at their meeting last night indicating three incidents during the month.  They were called to a structure fire on Church Street on the 10th.  They found the home to be fully engulfed with flames impeaching on neighboring homes.  Crews quickly confined the flames to the building with additional units called in and using multiple hydrants were able to extinguish the fire.

             

On the 20th they were called to a two vehicle collision at the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Callinan Street.  Crews assisted the occupants of the vehicles with no major injuries noted and helped remove the vehicles from the road.  Later on the 20th they were called to a two vehicle collision at the intersection of 4th Avenue and Main Street.  Occupants were out of the vehicles with no major injuries and crews assisted in the removal of vehicles and debris.

             

Fire fighters also received training on the newly purchased battery powered Jaws of Life.

             

Also at the meeting Council approved the attendance of the Mayor, CAO, Treasurer and four Councillors at the Association of Manitoba Municipalities Spring Convention in Brandon April 19th to 21st.  The Convention includes both provincial and regional meetings

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic effect on the mental health state of workers.

That’s according to Paula Allen the Senior Vice President of Research and Well-being for Lifeworks an organization that advises companies how to support their employees’ mental health and well-being.   

 

 Allen explains their latest Mental Health Index showed them a massive decline in the beginning of 2020 with the start of the pandemic compared to 2019 and since then a tripling of the high risk population so three times as many working Canadians are considered high risk for mental health issues as compared to 2019.

 

One factor employees consider vital to their mental health is flexibility.  An example is being able to take time from work for unexpected family matters such as a call from their child’s school that requires their attention.

 

Recognition and appreciation in a workplace were also said to be factors in good mental health for workers.

 

New Cases Are Up in Manitoba While Hospitalizations are Down a Bit.

Manitoba public health reported 180 new cases of COVID-19 this afternoon bringing the five day test positivity rate to 15.5 percent.  Of the new cases 59 are in Winnipeg followed by 46 in Northern health where 1605 cases are active including 35 in Flin Flon Snow Lake Cranberry Portage Sherridon, 80 in Thompson Mystery Lake and 108 in The Pas OCN Kelsey district.  Of the total 133,268 reported cases in the province 5661 are active, 125,890 people have recovered and 410 are in hospital with 18 in intensive care.

 

The Deadline is Approaching to Apply for Heritage Resources Conservation Grants.

The Manitoba government has set the deadline of March 21st for applications to the Heritage Resources Conservation Grant.  The program supports local, community based projects for the preservation and enhancement of Manitoba’s heritage sites.  It provides 750 thousand dollars annually to community groups, volunteer and heritage organizations to support projects that demonstrate a commitment toward the conservation and long term sustainability of heritage resources legally protected under the Heritage Resources Act.  Grant applications may be submitted for capital projects, research, conservation planning, education or training and endowments.

              A link to more information can be found attached to this story at www.flinflononline.com.

 

 

 

Link: www.gov.mb.ca/chc/grants/heritage_hrcg.html.

 

You Can Support the Construction of a New Pool at a Sport and Social Event.

The Aqua Centre Fundraising Committee is holding the first annual St. Patties Day Classic on Saturday.  Recreation Manager Andrew Smith says the idea was developed by Recreation Programmer Kelcey Andersen picked up by the Committee as a fundraiser.  He explains there’s going to be eight dodge ball teams and they’ll run on Saturday from 3:30 to 11 pm and then they will be having a band come on afterward for social events and social tickets can be bought at the door for 15 dollars.  He notes they are already full for their teams so they won’t be having any other teams to sign up this year but they’re hoping for a lot bigger event next year.

             

More information on spectator plus social tickets is available on the City of Flin Flon website under recreation or click on the banner at www.flinflononline.com.

COVID Restrictions Will Soon Be Recommendations.

Manitoba public health reported 111 new cases of COVID-19 this afternoon bringing the five day test positivity rate to 15.6 percent.  New case numbers are low in regions across the province including 11 in Northern health where 1559 case are active including 32 in Flin Flon Snow Lake Cranberry Portage Sherridon, 79 in Thompson Mystery Lake and 107 in The Pas OCN Kelsey district. Of the total 133,096 reported cases in the province 5485 are active, 125,895 people have recovered and 414 are in hospital with 20 in intensive care.

             

Remaining public health orders and restrictions are being lifted at 12:01 AM tomorrow including mask wearing in public places, public health orders restricting travel to northern Manitoba and public health will no longer require people who test positive for COVID-19 to isolate.  Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin notes they will continue to provide public health recommendations and guidance but now Manitobans are empowered to make their own decisions about what is right for themselves and their families.

 

An Enhanced Cleaning Program is Being Offered on Zoom to Give Businesses a Competitive Edge.

The Manitoba Tourism Education Council is offering Clean It Right on Zoom March 23rd.  Look North Economic Advisor Shannon Goulet says the training will help reassure customers that may be hesitant to travel, shop and eat out during the post COVID19 period. She explains it’s offering their first line employees, people who deal with clients on a regular basis, how to keep their own personal spaces clean.  She points out it’s not intended to teach people how to be housekeepers or professional cleaners by any means, it’s to keep their personal work spaces clean to keep your employees free from COVID-19 as well as your customers and clients from COVID-19, providing that extra sense of security from the pandemic and employer responsibility to the public.

             

The free workshop will be delivered on Zoom March 23rd from 9 am to 12.  To register you can provide email information to sgoulet@cedf.mb.ca or call 204-620-0233 in The Pas. Businesses completing the course will receive a certificate and window decal saying they have taken this program.

 

Someone Else May Be Driving Your Vehicle.

Saskatchewan RCMP report 1519 vehicle theft files were created last year which is consistently more than 100 vehicle thefts per month.  They note 451 or about 29 percent of the vehicle owners reported to police they had left keys inside the vehicle.  1095 or about 72 percent of the vehicle thefts resulted in the vehicle being recovered minutes, hours, days or even months later.  368 of the recovered vehicles were damaged in some way including being burned, stripped of parts or involved in a collision.  They note smaller vehicles which can be loaded onto a trailer or into a truck such as ATVs or motorcycles had a lower rate of recovery than truck, cars and SUVs.

             

The RCMP remind you to always take your keys when you leave your vehicle, hiding your keys with the vehicle is as risky as leaving them in the ignition, remember to remove all valuable items out of your vehicle whenever possible and remove garage door openers which may allow someone access to your home.

 

Most Mask Use Will End in Manitoba on Tuesday.

Manitoba public health reported 200 new cases of COVID-19 this afternoon bringing the five day test positivity rate to 14 percent.  Of the new cases 68 are in Winnipeg with much lower numbers in other regions except Northern health with 72.  There are 1508 active cases in the Northern region including 32 in Flin Flon Snow Lake Cranberry Portage Sherridon, 75 in Thompson Mystery Lake and 102 in The Pas OCN Kelsey.  Of the total 132,681 reported cases in the province 5058 are active, 125,913 people have recovered and 417 are in hospital with 23 in intensive care.

             

Public health orders requiring masks in public places ends on Tuesday however masks will continue to be required for anyone attending a health care facility including visitors.

University College of the North has Announced a New Governing Council Board Chair.

UCN has announced Becky Cianflone who has been a member of the Governing Council since 2018 has been appointed as the new Chair of the Board.  Effective immediately Cianflone succeeds Cam Mateika who recently retired after serving as Chair for the past three years.

             

 A release states Becky Cianflone has spent her career empowering entrepreneurs and communities to create and build and is the Executive Director of Community Futures Greenstone in Flin Flon.  Her extensive board experience includes Community Economic Development Fund/Look North, Northern Manitoba Tourism Advisory Committee, Flin Flon Women’s Resource Centre and Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce.

             

Cianflone notes she is excited to continue the positive work of the board for northern learners noting UCN has an important role to play in facilitating conversations and creating solutions.  She adds post secondary education is intrinsically tied to economic development and she is excited to contribute her experience.

 

Are Our Roads the Worst in Manitoba?

CAA Manitoba is once again asking you to help identify roads in dire need of attention with its annual Worst Roads Campaign.  Their Government and Community Relations Manager Heather Mack says they want to hear about our roads.  She explains they’re looking for Manitobans to nominate any road that they think is the worst road and then it depends on how they want to define it.  It could be traditional things like unpaved or potholes, it could be it’s an unsafe road for another reason like it could be the speed limit is too high. She notes however you decide to define it they’re happy to hear from you.

             

Mack adds CAA will compile a list of the ten worst roads in Manitoba along with the worst roads in regions across the province and present the list to local and provincial officials to help inform future funding and planning decisions. Voting runs until April 6th and you can nominate your worst road online at www.caaworstroads.com

 

A Large Drop in New and Active Cases Has Been Reported for our Area.

Manitoba public health reported 200 new cases of COVID-19 this afternoon bringing the five day test positivity rate to 12.7 percent.  Of the new cases 105 are in Winnipeg with much lower numbers in other regions including 39 in the Northern region where 1463 cases are active including 31 in Flin Flon Snow Lake Cranberry Portage Sherridon, 69 in Thompson Mystery Lake and 106 in The Pas OCN Kelsey district.  Of the total 132,487 reported cases 4900 are active, 125,879 people have recovered and 424 are in hospital with 22 in intensive care.

             

In their weekly report Saskatchewan health reported 1013 cases confirmed for the week of February 27th to March 5th 92 percent of the number of new cases for the previous week.  As of March 9th 339 people were in hospital down 14 and 24 in intensive care down six.  The Far North East reported nine new cases for the week.

 

People Interested in Manitoba History Can Receive a Special Award.

The Manitoba Historical Society is accepting nominations for the Lieutenant Governor’s Award.  The Society’s Gordon Goldsborough says nominations are open to anyone interested in the history of the province.  He explains the idea is to recognize people who have made a prolonged contribution to their community in any number of ways relating to the history of the community.  He adds it might be through writing a book, through operating a museum, through projects in the community, there’s any number of things and they really don’t want to constrain it to say it’s one particular thing but it’s usually not a single project over a couple of years, it’s usually something that extends over a number of years.

             

Previous recipients have included Flin Flonners Don Peake and Gerry Clark who received this award in 2018 for their work in preserving and promoting the history of Flin Flon.

             

Nomination forms and more information are available on the websites of the Manitoba Historical Society www.mhs.mb.ca or the Lieutenant Governor at www.manitobalg.ca.  The deadline is April 1st and the application must include documentation and letters of support for the nomination.

Funding and Activities Were Part of the School Board Meeting.

At their meeting earlier this week the Flin Flon School Board passed a motion to approve their 2022-23 budget. The budget will be forwarded to the Manitoba Education Funding Branch no later than March 31st as required.  The Board also agreed to submit the 2022 Special Levy request to the City of Flin Flon no later than the deadline of March 15th this year.  The Board also agreed to sign the COLA appendix, the Cost of Living Allowance, with the Flin Flon Teachers Society.

             

In other news all schools in the Division have done a great job in sharing information about the many activities the students have been involved in over the past few weeks through the Board’s agenda package.

             

Elementary report cards will be sent home on March 14th and on March 17th there will be early dismissal at 2:15 for elementary student’s family teacher interviews which can be held in person or virtually.

 

Active Cases Are Again Up a Bit in Manitoba Including the North.

Manitoba public health reported 210 new cases of COVID-19 this afternoon bringing the five day test positivity rate to 13 percent.  Of the new cases 76 are in Winnipeg with lower numbers in other regions including 48 in Northern health where 2642 cases are active with 65 in Flin Flon Snow Lake Cranberry Portage Sherridon, 102 in Thompson Mystery Lake and 161 in The Pas OCN Kelsey district.  Of the total 132,295 reported cases in the province 7903 are active, 122,689 people have recovered and 436 are in hospital with 23 in intensive care.

You Can Fish, Win Prizes and Support a New Pool.

The Flin Flon Rotary Club 2022 Flinty Virtual Ice Fishing Derby gets underway later this month. The Club’s Dean Grove says you can fish between March 19th and April 3rd in all lakes in Manitoba and Saskatchewan north of the 53rd parallel with over 25 thousand dollars in prizes.  He explains what happens is people download the Fish Donkey app, you then go in and register under the Flinty Fish Derby site and they’ll walk you through the registration, you go out and fish and you open up the app and you’re able to fish for walleye, northern pike, lake trout and burbot and they also have mystery length categories.  You walk through the process of submitting an application, put it in, if you are one of the larger fish you see it on the leader board so you’ll be able to keep track of your progress.  He notes it’s a new way to do this but they think it’s going to be a great way to do it and give people lots of chance to go out and fish in their own time and during good weather and in lakes that they prefer.

             

Grove adds all profits raised go to support the construction of the new community pool complex.  You can find more information on The Flinty Ice Fishing Derby Facebook page.

 

Additional High Grade Results Reported Near Snow Lake.

Rockcliff Metals Corporation has announced additional high grade volcanic massive sulphide drill results from its ongoing phase two drill program at their Copperman Property.  This property hosts the historical unmined Copperman VMS Deposit and is within the Snow Lake Mining Camp. They intersected 4.0 percent copper equivalent across 4.9 meters including 18.3 percent copper equivalent across 0.5 meters.

             

Rockcliff Interim President Ken Lapierre says Copperman drill results within and proximal to the historical Copperman VMS Deposit continue to intersect high grade VMS intervals across 150 meters of strike to depths of 250 meters and remain open in all directions.  He adds additional nearby geophysical targets will also be tested for their significance.

Active Cases Are Up a Bit in Northern Manitoba.

Manitoba public health reported 142 new cases of COVID-19 this afternoon bringing the five day test positivity rate to 13.9 percent.  Of the new cases 52 are in Winnipeg with lower numbers in other regions with 41 in Northern health where 2588 cases are active including 66 in Flin Flon Snow Lake Cranberry Portage Sherridon, 98 in Thompson Mystery Lake and 159 in The Pas OCN Kelsey district.  Of the total 132,089 reported cases in the province 7695 are active, 122,694 people have recovered and 406 are in hospital with 21 in intensive care.

 

Its Not Your Typical Who Done It.

The local Ham Sandwich Theatre Group is presenting their production of The Butler Did It Friday and Saturday nights.  Director Alain Lachapelle says it’s a lighter side murder mystery.  He explains it’s written by an American playwright whose kind of known for funny comedy type shows and it basically is kind of a send off to all the different British murder mysteries of the 20th century, the Miss Marples, Poirot and all of those other ones, but it really is just a take on that where the characters are a lot bigger, they’re a lot goofier and it’s really just having fun with all the different scenes and things like that that would happen in one of those stories.

             

The Butler Did It will be performed Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 in the Flin Flon Community Hall with tickets 20 dollars available through the Flin Flon Arts Council website www.flinflonartscouncil.ca, at the Uptown Emporium on Main Street or at the door.  Masks are still required under COVID-19 protocols.

Non-seatbelt use is higher than expected in northern Manitoba.

That’s according to a road safety observation study commissioned by MPI last fall with Thompson, Flin Flon, and The Pas being the three northern communities in the study.

 

Media Relations Coordinator Brian Smiley explains checking the data they saw that with respect to the non-seatbelt use in the northern region roughly 29 hundred vehicles were looked at with a non-seatbelt use he believes of about ten percent.

 

MPI notes a person is 50 times more likely to be killed and almost four times more likely to be seriously injured when not wearing a seatbelt.

 

Additionally, failing to wear a seatbelt will result in a fine of two hundred dollars and moving down two levels on the Driver Safety Rating Scale.

 

New Case Numbers Are Down Again in Manitoba.

Manitoba public health reported 88 new cases of COVID-19 this afternoon bringing the five day test positivity rate to 14.7 percent.  Of the new cases 40 are in Winnipeg with much lower numbers in other regions including 12 in Northern health where 2557 cases are active including 63 in Flin Flon Snow Lake Cranberry Portage Sherridon, 100 in Thompson Mystery Lake and 156 in The Pas OCN Kelsey district.  Of the total 131,948 reported cases 7571 are active, 122,677 people have recovered and 434 are in hospital with 27 in intensive care.

 

More Support is Needed For a Safer Highway Six Petition.

The Safer Highway Six committee is looking for a further 400 or so signatures on their petition to the government for safety improvements to Highway Six between Thompson and Winnipeg.  The petition shows serious accidents that have resulted in collisions, human suffering and deaths and is asking the government to make improvements over the next few years including wider shoulders, passing lanes, rest stops, rumble strips, improved snow plowing and de-icing and faster accident response times.

             

They say they need much more representation from Northerners on the petition especially those influential individuals whose support in noted to be lacking adding these are the supportive signatures that will determine if this petition is given serious consideration by the government.

             

You can find the petition at #SaferHighway6 or on Facebook /SaferHighway6.

 

Be Aware of Online Sales Fraud.

Prince Albert RCMP remind area residents to protect themselves from fraud when buying and selling items online.  Recently officers have received reports of fraud connected to online buy or sell groups on social media.  Victims report they are asked to e-transfer a deposit to hold a desired item and once they do the seller blocks contact with them.

             

The RCMP recommend don’t pay for or send a deposit for an item you haven’t seen, don’t give out personal or banking information to the buyer or seller, take screen shots of the advertisement, the sellers contact information and your communication with them, use common sense remembering if something seems too good to be true it probably is and if something seems suspicious about the buyer or seller trust your instincts and walk away.

             

If you are a victim of fraud report it to your local police service and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online at www.antifraudcentre.ca or by phone at 1-888-495-8501.

 

March is Fraud Prevention Month.

Director of Provincial Affairs for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business Kathleen Cook says businesses - not just individuals - can fall prey to fraud.

 

She shares some of the types of fraud with which businesses contend…….

“There’s a few. One of those is business grant and loans scams and that’s a type of fraud that’s sort of on the rise since the start of the pandemic. There’s credit card fraud that most people are familiar with. There are many other types of scams that targets businesses specifically. For example, false invoicing, office supply scams, directory fraud and then, of course, there is internal workplace fraud as well.”

Cook says that on average fraud costs small businesses 62-hundred dollars a year.

 

She notes some business owners don’t report fraud because it’s time consuming and victims often feel unsure of what law enforcement can do to help.

 

 She adds by reporting fraud authorities have the information they need to increase the odds of catching the criminal.   It also helps them to detect trends and prevent other businesses from falling victim to scammers. 

Your Children Can Help Name Future Police Dogs.

The RCMP are inviting young people across the country to help name thirteen German Shepherd puppies that will be born at the Police Dog Service Training Center this year.  Administrative Clerk Kim Mann says the rules are simple.  The contestants can suggest one name, it can be for a male or female puppy, the name must start with the letter “R” and be no more than nine letters and it should be one or two syllables, the contest is open to kids that are between 4 and 14 years old, they must live in Canada and entries must be received by March 17th submitted online as they are not accepting mail in entries this year.

             

The thirteen children whose puppy names are selected will each receive a laminated 8 by 10 inch photo of the puppy they named, a plush dog called Justice and an RCMP water bottle.  For information on how to enter online go to your favorite search engine and type in Name the Puppy Contest 2022.  Although there can be only 13 winners the names not selected for the contest will be considered for other puppies born during the year.

Manitoba has Reduced COVID-19 Mandates for Vaccine Passports and Mask Will Go March 15th.

Despite COVID case numbers starting to drop province-wide, Dr. William Libich, Medical Officer of Health with the Northern Health Region urges caution.  He explains although we too have had a decline in our cases there’s still significant COVID-19 activity in the north concentrated around Thompson, The Pas, Flin Flon, some of the First Nations communities in the north continue to experience outbreaks, some of them quite large.  He adds we also have a few outbreaks in several of our personal care homes at the present time so this tells us the pandemic is not over and we cannot let our guard down.

 

Libich says one of the best ways to combat COVID-19 is still to get a vaccine.   

 

With the Novavax recombinant protein vaccine recently approved by Health Canada Libich hopes Manitobans who are vaccine-hesitant will consider this option. 

 

Active Cases are Dropping in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Manitoba public health reported 165 new cases of COVID-19 this afternoon bringing the five day test positivity rate to 12.5 percent.  Of the new cases 60 are in Winnipeg with lower numbers in other regions including 37 in Northern health where 2442 cases are active including 60 in the Flin Flon Snow Lake Cranberry Portage Sherridon district, 94 in Thompson Mystery Lake and 142 in The Pas OCN Kelsey district.  Of the total 131,355 reported cases in the province 6968 are active, 122,702 people have recovered and 459 are in hospital with 29 in intensive care.

             

In their weekly report Saskatchewan health reported 1102 new cases for the week of February 20th to 26th three quarters of the number of new cases in the previous week with nine new cases in the Far Northeast Zone.  The test positivity rate was 14.4 percent lower than the previous week.  353 people are in hospital with 30 in intensive care.

High Grade Intervals Continue to be Found in Drilling in the Flin Flon Mining District.

Callinex Mines has announced results from additional drilling from the 2021 exploration campaign to expand the high grade copper, gold, silver and zinc Rainbow Deposit at the Pine Bay Project 16 kilometers from Flin Flon.  They intersected nine meters of 12.53 percent copper including 5.5 meters of 17.3 percent copper and other high grade intervals at the Deposit.

             

President Max Porterfield notes near surface drilling has produced the highest returned assays for gold, silver and zinc while the highest grade copper has been intersected at depth adding the Rainbow deposit now comes within 110 meters of surface which they believe has the potential to further reduce upfront capital costs and development timelines.

             

The Company plans to delineate Rainbow within the first one kilometer of surface in anticipation of publishing a maiden resource later this year.  Since they discovered the Rainbow Deposit in August 2020 the Company has drilled 71 holes for a total of 40 thousand meters in the deposit area.

You Can Apply for a Permanent Job of Wandering Around Saskatchewan.

Applications are now being accepted to find the next great adventurer who will showcase the beauty of the province as the Saskatchewanderer.  Now in its 12th year the program is undergoing changes with the role becoming a full time permanent position starting in April.

             

Felipe Gomez the current Saskatchewanderer wraps up his 12 month term on March 31st and reports if you love adventure, meeting people, trying delicious food and most importantly sharing your discoveries with thousands of followers this is the job for you.  The program has evolved over the years and grown its fan base to more than 137 thousand followers. The change in the program will allow for high quality content to be produced year round uninterrupted by annual onboarding.

             

Applications for the new full time Saskatchewanderder position will be accepted until 5 pm March 9th.  You can learn more and find an application form at www.saskatchewanderder.ca.

Manitoba is getting rid of a public health ordering requiring those who test positive with COVID-19 to self-isolate.

The province announced today beginning March 15 it will only be a recommendation for people who contracted the virus to isolate. 

Dr. Jazz Atwal, the deputy chief public health officer, says the province is at a point where COVID-19 will still affect hospitalizations and generate cases, but severe outcomes are diminished. 

There are 464 people in hospital due to COVID-19, with 30 people in intensive care units. 

Manitoba will also end investigations into positive cases. 

Those who test positive will still be notified. but the province will no longer trace where they may have caught or transmitted the virus. 

The province removed vaccine mandates Tuesday and mask mandates will be removed March 15.  

New Cases Continue to be Low in Manitoba.

Manitoba public health reported 163 new cases of COVID-19 this afternoon bringing the five day test positivity rate to 13.7 percent. Of the new cases 55 are in Winnipeg with 52 in the Northern health region where 2942 cases are active including 83 in the Flin Flon Snow Lake Cranberry Portage Sherridon district, 146 in Thompson Mystery Lake and 218 in The Pas OCN Kelsey district.  Of the total 131,193 confirmed cases in the province 9776 are active, 119,735 people have recovered and 464 are in hospital with 30 in intensive care.

Flin Flon City Council is Proposing Expanding the Special Services Levy.

At their meeting last night Council gave first reading to a bylaw to establish a special services levy for Police and Fire Services as well as Recreation Support Services and Snow Removal and Dust Control. The City plans to levy the annual special services tax upon properties and the business tax roll starting with rounded off figures of 894 dollars for property and 395 dollars for business for this year with a one percent increase proposed for 2023 and another one percent for 2024. They note all taxpayers benefit from these services so taxpayers throughout the entire municipality would contribute to the costs of the services.

             

A public hearing will be held in Council Chambers on Wednesday March 16th at 7pm to receive any objections to this proposal.

             

Mayor Cal Huntley thanked city employees for their ongoing work at snow removal during an unusually snow filled winter and Councillor Karen MacKinnon mentioned she met a long time member of the water bomber team who praised the Flin Flon airport as always being a first class operation.

 

Mining and a Mill are Planned for a Project West of Flin Flon.

Foran Mining Corporation has announced results from a Feasibility Study on its expanded initial mine plan for their McIlvenna Bay project 85 kilometers west of Flin Flon.  The Study outlines a project designed to be a decline/shaft underground mining operation utilizing long hole mining methods for ore extraction.  Ore is expected to be processed via conventional single stage crushing circuit with a semi-autogenous grinding mill and ball design.  Grinding is planned to be followed by a flotation circuit to produce both a copper and zinc concentrate for transportation from site to Flin Flon for shipment by rail to Canadian smelters and/or off shore.

             

Foran’s Executive Chairman Dan Myerson notes McIlvenna Bay is expected to be the centralized mill that could be expanded in phases as they continue to explore, define and potentially develop near mine deposits and more within a 50 kilometer radius.  He adds they are focused on education and training of local people to provide employment opportunities and build transferable skills.

The Northern Region in Manitoba Has the Larger Number of New Cases.

Manitoba public health reported 272 new cases of COVID-19 this afternoon bringing the five day test positivity rate up to 15.9 percent.  Of the new cases Northern health had the larger number at 90 with 2882 cases reported as active including 79 in the Flin Flon Snow Lake Cranberry Portage Sherridon district with Thompson Mystery Lake reporting 142 and The Pas OCN Kelsey 218 active cases.  Of the total 131,034 confirmed cases in the province 9606 are active, 119,748 people have recovered and 463 are in hospital with 29 in intensive care.

 

A Weekend of Events Will Help You Celebrate Winter.

The Bust the Winter Blues Festival is coming up Saturday night and Sunday at the Creighton Sportex.  The committee’s Chana Senyk says it starts on Saturday night at 7:30 with fireworks over the Creighton Soccer Field and on Sunday at one o’clock til 4 pm they will have a bonfire, sliding hill, hot dogs and hot chocolate, snow painting, Freezie mountain and cupcake decorating in the lounge.  At 1:30 they have a celebrity smooshing event so come on and cheer for your favorite Council member, cultural games, snow jug races, free for the whole family starting from three years old to adults.  They have a road hockey game, public skating at 1:30 and at 4 pm you can go to the Flin Flon Ski Club for cross country skiing, it’s free and includes your equipment rental and your trail fees. So come and listen to the music with Amisk Sound, it’s a free event for everyone, come out and enjoy the weather and say goodbye to winter.

             

A complete list of events can be found on the Creighton Recreation Facebook page.

UCN Will Continue With Some COVID Requirements.

University College of the North will continue vaccine and masking requirements for students, employees and visitors until the end of the Winter Term on Friday, April 22nd.  UCN reports they moved many courses online in response to the pandemic noting the decision to keep these requirements in place will avoid as much disruption as possible for students who continue to study at UCN learning facilities.

             

Their President and Vice-Chancellor Doug Lauvstad stated the situation at UCN is unique given their hands-on learning environment, their residences and their multiple teaching sites throughout the north adding UCN will continue to work to keep students, faculty and staff safe, healthy and engaged in education during the pandemic.

             

UCN shares updated pandemic plans at www.ucncovid.ca.

Health care spending and where it's directed have Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew worried.

While in Thompson last week Kinew spoke to Arctic Radio about how funding cuts made by the Progressive Conservative government a few years back lead to over-burdened, understaffed health care facilities during the pandemic.

 

 He said Thompson and the north have been hit particularly hard with staffing shortages noting in Thompson 11 million dollars last year on agency nurses, that’s basically just a symptom of the fact that they don’t have the staff necessary to work here.  He added we saw closures in the communities like Leaf Rapids and Gillam over the holidays and we’ve seen other signs of strain.

 

Last year’s cost for agency nurses was double that of 2019.  

 

Kinew said he and the NDP want the province to provide a timetable for when and how they plan to tackle the backlog of surgeries and diagnostic tests.  

 

According to Kinew that number is sitting at around 160-thousand procedures. 

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