Local News Archives for 2023-01

Semester Change is Underway for Hapnot Students.

Hapnot Collegiate is nearing the end of their first semester.  Principal Steve Lytwyn explains today is the last day of classes for semester one with students writing exams on February 1st, 2nd and 3rd and the school closed on Monday February 6th for an admin day……

 

“Second semester starts on Tuesday February 7th.  It will be sort of business as usual.  Student will report directly to their slot one class so for a few of our students they have shop in slot one over at McIssac.  They should report directly to McIsaac to go to shop and then the buses will be running to bring them back to Hapnot for classes as per usual and that again is Tuesday February 7th.  Also report cards will be available for parents and guardians on Tuesday February 7th online and if anyone wants a paper copy of the report card they just either have to email hapnot@ffsd.mb.ca or they can call the school at 204-687-7506 and we’ll be happy to provide a paper copy of the child’s report card”

 

Any parents or students needing more information can call the Collegiate at 204-687-7506.

 

You Can Provide Input on Manitoba Budget 2023.

The Manitoba government is inviting Manitobans to join telephone town hall engagement sessions and attend in person public meetings to help inform Budget 2023.  The only in person session in the north is being held in Thompson on February 9th.  The northern regional telephone town hall is being held on February 8th at 6:30 pm.  Participants are asked to pre-register and reserve a spot for an in-person meeting or sign up to receive a phone call for the telephone town hall at https://engagemb.ca/budget-2023.  You can also participate in an online survey that has now been launched at https://engagemb.ca or email ideas to Budget2023feedback@gov.mb.ca. You can find these links in this news story at www.flinflononline.com.

             

The government notes Budget 2023 will focus on what Manitobans want most including affordability measures, quality health care, education, economic growth and infrastructure investments.

The Manitoba Theatre Centre Returns to Flin Flon Saturday.

The Flin Flon Arts Councils Crystal Kolt says it’s exciting to have the Manitoba Theatre Centre back in town to perform the one man show Assassinating Thomson……

 

“Bruce Horak is both the actor and the visual artist.  He is also visually impaired.  What is fascinating about it is that he through this production tells the story about Tom Thomson who was one of the additional Group of Seven painters that disappeared, in reality we don’t know what happened and so he talks about that story while he’s also performing the show and painting during it as well.”

 

Kolt adds it’s a show for everyone, the theatre buffs, the visual artists and anyone who wants to see something really extraordinary. Assassinating Thomson will be performed Saturday night at 7:30 in the Flin Flon Community Hall with tickets available at the Uptown Emporium or online at www.flinflonartscouncil.ca.

Callinex Continues to Move Forward at their Pine Bay Project Near Flin Flon.

Callinex Mines has received final results from the 2022 exploration campaign to expand and delineate the high grade copper, gold, silver and zinc Rainbow deposit. It is located at their Pine Bay Project in the Flin Flon Mining District.  Since its discovery the Company has completed in excess of 42 thousand meters of drilling across 82 drill holes.  The drilling and corresponding assay results are properly spaced to publish a maiden resource on the deposit which is forthcoming.  President Max Porterfield notes as they await the maiden resource they look forward to continuing to aggressively advance Rainbow in their 2023 exploration campaign.

             

The final drill results from the 2022 campaign are highlighted by a drill hole that returned the best intersection to date in the Red Zone with 10.40 meters of 3.97 percent copper equivalent including 3.31 percent copper, 0.61 grams per tonne gold, 10.31 grams per tonne silver and 0.41 percent zinc. The Rainbow remains open at depth and has the potential to grow through additional exploration.

A Recently Retired Flin Flon Doctor Received a Special Award Earlier This Week.

Flin Flon MLA Tom Lindsey presented the Queen Elizabeth the Second Platinum Jubilee Medal to Dr. Krishan Sethi in a ceremony at the Manitoba Legislature Monday…..

 

“Every MLA was given ten of these medals to present to people that we thought were deserving within the community and of course as MLA for Flin Flon I represent 15 different communities so I selected people from quite a few communities to receive them but certainly Dr. Sethi is well deserving as he’s been here for so many years and has been an integral part of the community, the fabric of Flin Flon and so I thought he was well deserving of that kind of recognition.”

 

Dr. Sethi retired and closed his family medical practice at the end of November after 43 years of service to our community.  Lindsey presented three other medals to people from South Indian Lake, Cross Lake and Norway House.

 

Advertising and Lighting Were Part of the Creighton Council Meeting.

At their meeting earlier this week the Town of Creighton reported receiving correspondence from Tinas Office on Wheels regarding placement of advertising for the Creighton Connection bus.  Fifty thousand placemats will be printed and seen when customers dine at Chicken Chef.  This request has been referred to the General Government Services Committee for further discussion.

             

Council also agreed to carry the motion to authorize the Mayor and Chief Administrative Officer to sign the change order for the delay costs and additional peracetic acid for the wastewater treatment plant project.

             

Council agreed to inform property owners on First Street West concerned with a lack of lighting in the back lane that the request for street lights would set a precedence the Town could not afford.  Mayor Fidler said if they start erecting lights in back lakes every property owner with a back lane in Creighton would be asking for lighting.  Council recommends installing motion lights on your garage and home.

 

Flin Flon RCMP Have Released More Details on a Recent Death.

On January 5th Kara Fosseneuve was reported missing in Flin Flon.  On the 9th they reported she was found deceased in a garage. The RCMP report the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner completed the autopsy of Fosseneuve and the cause of death was due to exposure.

The RCMP note as there have been widely shared social media posts and news articles on her death with speculative information contrary to the investigative facts they have released more details.  They explain the investigation has determined that sometime in the early morning hours of December 31st Kara left a residence on Dadson Row and made her way to Green Street.  It is believed she then entered a garage located at the rear of the property to take shelter where she succumbed to the elements.  They add there is no evidence of criminality.

Planning is Underway for This Years Trout Festival.

The Flin Flon Trout Festival Committee held their annual meeting Tuesday night.  Acting President Dianne Russell reported on changes last year with the committee working as an umbrella group in partnership with Denare Beach Recreation for the fishing derby and Canada Day, Creighton Rec for the midway and Canada Day events, Northland Ford for the parade, the City of Flin Flon for grants and the Flin Flon Arts Council for the Fish Fry.

             

The committee agreed they had a great festival last year with all events well attended.  Treasurer Elly Spencer reported they will start this year with 10 thousand dollars in their account with Russell adding applications have and are being sent out for a number of grants that are available. Mike Slipp reported Northland Ford will be unable to organize the Canada Day parade like they did last year but will continue to be a sponsor.

             

Dianne Russell agreed to be Acting President, Laurence Gillespie will continue as Secretary and Elly Spencer as Treasurer.  They are in need of a Vice-President.  The committee will hold a planning meeting on February 21st to decide what events will be held this July long weekend.  Once they have that they will hold a blitz for volunteers to help out with the events.

 

A Program to Assist School Division Staff Was Passed at The School Board Meeting.

Lots of great stuff is happening at the Division’s Schools as the Flin Flon School Division Trustees met earlier this week.  The Board agreed to pass a motion to purchase the Employees and Family Assistance Program which was presented this past December in a letter from the Manitoba School Boards Association.  This program does confidential counseling for the Division’s non-teaching staff that are on the seniority list or on contract with the Division. The Board did ask the MSBA for help in coming up with a more affordable option and are pleased to be able to afford to do this for their employees.  The teaching staff already has their own plan.

             

Board Chair Leslie Fernandes reported the Division recently received a generous cash donation from long time Flin Flon citizen Bill Friesen.  The money will be used toward scholarships for Hapnot students going into the fields of science and math, subjects Bill himself was fond of.  The Board appreciates the gift and thanks the estate of Mr. Friesen for giving back to his community and contributing to the betterment of local students.

Your Input is Needed as Our Health Region Plans For the Future.

The Board of Directors of the Northern Health Region is looking ahead and renewing its commitment to strategic planning.  They are asking you to complete a survey to help shape the direction for the next five years.  In the survey they note to achieve their goal of improving health services they are looking for your experiences and insights on the Northern Health Region adding since you have a stake in a healthier community and a stronger Northern Health Region you have a valuable perspective that they need to hear. They are asking that you to take the time to complete a survey that will be open until January 31st. Their strategic plan is due April 1st.

             

To complete the survey go to their website www.northernhealthregion.com and scroll down to Community Stakeholder Survey or find the link at www.flinflononline.com and give your opinion on their current direction and what direction they should be going over the next five years.

It Was Another Successful Journey for Sight.

The Journey for Sight is a snowmobile fundraiser for the Lions Eye Bank of Manitoba and Northwest Ontario.  It started in Flin Flon last Wednesday wrapping up in Brandon Saturday.  Committee Chair Dave Mullin from the Swan River Lions Club said it went pretty well with the weather being the best they’ve had in a while and the snow was good…..

 

“The biggest thing was it would have been nice to have a few more riders but we’re hoping that will come next year once we kind of get back going here again.  We had a little problem with our snow machines, I’m not really sure why but we had 15 to start but over the course of the week we did have four of them blow a motor so not real good odds when you start with 15 and you lost four of them but besides that everything kind of went pretty decent.  A lot of support again from everywhere we stopped so it was good.”

 

Mullin added they had a little over 20 thousand dollars turned in Saturday but riders still have pledges to turn in and they also have the money from their snowmobile raffle to come in.

Hudbay is Expanding Its Drill Program in Snow Lake.

At the Hudbay awards night Friday the Vice-President of the Manitoba Business Unit Rob Carter explained how they are moving forward in Snow Lake….

 

“Lalor Mine is advancing several key initiatives to increase production to 5300 tonnes per day.  Stall Mill recovery improvement project is well underway with all major pieces of equipment on sight and steel work being directed to support the installation of the state of the art Jameson cells as were installed at New Brit to increase metal recovery.  We’re seeing positive results from New Brit Mill and current throughput is trending above initial project design and operating costs are decreasing.  Surface exploration has commenced north of Lalor Mine with five drills turning.  These drills are targeting down plunge of their high grade copper and their gold zone testing for new ore bodies at depth of 1500 meters to 2000 meters below surface.”

 

Carter added they haven’t done this amount of surface exploration drilling at Lalor since the initial discovery more than ten years ago.

 

You Can Support the SPCA and Enter a Draw at Twin Motors.

Twin Motors with a helping hand from Canadian Tire is holding a fund raising event for the Flin Flon Creighton and Area SPCA. Product Specialist Brett Hanson explains how it works….

 

“We’ll match cash donations up to five thousand dollars so total if we get that amount brought in we will match that over the next month and it could be a total of ten thousand dollars in cash as a possible donation to the SPCA.  We are also accepting any food and supplies that the SPCA uses and we have a truck pretty full already down here at the showroom.  We’ll put your name in for a free oil change, full interior detail and exterior wash.  It’ll be a full peace of mind inspection with a synthetic oil change.”

 

Donations will be accepted at Twin Motors until February 14th.

 

The Quarter Century Club Continues to Grow.

Membership in Hudbays Quarter Century Club climbed to 3187 Friday night with the awarding of watches to 12 employees who have completed 25 years of continuous service with the Company.  Safety awards were awarded to 13 employees with 25 years, 7 employees with 30 years and 12 employees with 35 years without a lost time accident.  Those receiving safety awards represent 925 years of safe work at Hudbay. 

             

The Vice-President of Manitoba Business Operations Rob Carter spoke on nearly 100 years of Hudbay in Flin Flon and now moving forward in Snow Lake noting the contribution the award recipients have made to the success of Huday…..

 

“But tonight we’re here to congratulate and thank safety recipients and the 25 year watch recipients.  You should be proud of your achievements.  Please wear your watches with pride.  Without the people in this room we would not be the business we are today and I appreciate our commitment to the Company.”

 

Also recognized were the members of the Flin Flon Mine Rescue Team who won top spot in Manitoba last year.

 

25 year safety 

 

30 year safety

 

35 year safety

 

25 year watch

 

Mine Rescue  

 

People interested in applying for the University of Manitoba's Northern Social Work Program have until March 1st to do so.

Program Director Lee Anne Deegan explains jobs pertaining to social work will continue to be in demand saying many of their graduates stay in the north as they pursue their careers.

 

Deegan walks through the application process for prospective students.....,

 

“Students come into our program in two different routes.  We have students who come in externally who apply directly to the University of Manitoba and those students have a minimum of 30 credit hours of University level course work at a College so they can just Google Faculty of Social Work Fort Garry Campus of the external students and the application information bulletin and all the details will be there.  Our access students come directly into our program.  They have to be at least 21 years of age and have less than 27 credit hours of University level course work.”

 

She reports 460 people have graduated from the program since 1988 meaning around ten to 15 students graduate from the program in a given year.

 

Help Is Available to Make You a Non-Smoker.

This is National Non-Smoking Week in Canada.  The week has been celebrated annually in Canada since 1977.  Its goals are to educate Canadians about the dangers of smoking and to help people quit. According to the Canadian Community Health Survey smokers are more likely to quit in January than any other month.  Approximately 48 thousand Canadians die each year from tobacco use and direct health care costs in 2017 were estimated to be more than six billion dollars.

             

The Canadian Lung Association is a partner in Smoke Free Curious which is a website launched during Non-Smoking Week last year.  The site represents what a smoke free life might look like and includes a range of resources and tools to support Canadians in their quit attempts. You could also receive a free sample of Nicotine Replacement Therapy like the patch and gum. Go to www.smokefreecurious.ca.

 

This is Snowmobile Safety Week.

Sergeant Jeremy Knodel of Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan reminds snowmobilers their teams are working to keep people safe on the roads and trails but can’t be everywhere. He asks you to help contribute to trail safety by wearing proper protective equipment and weather appropriate clothing, don’t ride impaired, register your snowmobile and check local trail conditions.  Always share your snowmobiling plans with someone before you head out, pack extra supplies and ensure your cell phone is charged.

             

Sergeant Knodel emphasizes riders must have their snowmobile registered before they ride it on public roads where allowed, in ditches, other highway rights of way, provincial parks, crown land, designated snowmobile trails or on rivers or lakes.  He also reminds you consuming alcohol or drugs in warm up shelters is not permitted and someone violating this could be issued a 250 dollar fine adding this is in addition to the obvious dangers associated with impaired driving.

Callinex Will Continue to Move Forward at Its Pine Bay Project near Flin Flon.

In his annual letter to shareholders Callinex President Max Porterfield reported over the last year Callinex has remained focused on delineating the high-grade copper, gold, silver and zinc Rainbow Deposit and testing regional targets developed by their team at their Pine Bay Project, located just outside of Flin Flon. He explained at Rainbow the Company has completed over 42,000 meters of drilling into the deposit area since its discovery in August 2020.  They have now completed all the necessary drilling to establish a maiden resource estimate for Rainbow down to the 800 meter level. Looking forward they are eager to continue to advance Rainbow with infill drilling, a key step prior to commencing economic studies, and are excited to conduct exploration at depth to further increase the size of the deposit.            

He also noted exploration opportunities beyond Rainbow and the recently discovered Alchemist look bright and bring the potential to stack a pipeline of discoveries at Pine Bay. Within the main growth fault, corridor follow-up is planned at target area Odin which is located between Alchemist and Rainbow as well as the Cabin deposit area to the east.

Financial Goals Should Be Part of Your Plans For the New Year.

While financial recovery is top of mind for many Canadians only one-in-three are setting financial goals as a New Year’s resolution.

 

A financial advisor for PC Financial, Jackie Porter, elaborates on why this is the case.....

 

“I think there’s a level of anxiety that comes with not knowing what to do.  Even if you have goals it’s like what do I do next.  So the holiday bills have come in, do I feel anxious about them, will I open the bills, will I look at them.  So the first thing is to take action around our fears, open those bills and come up with a plan to pay off the bills sooner than later as we know we’re in high inflation, high interest times and I think tools are really important when it comes to creating a plan, like what tools do you have at your disposal.”

 

Porter adds establishing a “rainy day” fund is important, and says even contributing a small amount of money monthly can make a difference in the long run.

Flin Flon City Council is Working on Ways to Attract People to the Community.

At  their meeting last night Council agreed to transfer funds from their operating budget to the Flin Flon Community Development Corporation to facilitate the purchase of housing when and if necessary to increase housing availability for RCMP members.  Mayor George Fontaine explained it is difficult to get RCMP members to come here as it is elsewhere in the country.  He noted as well the departure of Hudbay concerns people when it comes to making a commitment to purchasing a home so they are working on a series of policies including housing in conjunction with the RCMP to attract and retain members here.

             

Mayor Fontaine also noted they are working on attracting industry here and are meeting with provincial ministers regarding land.  He said there are large areas within the city that belong to the province and the problem is when people show interest in these properties the city has to run to the province and by the time that process takes place they have gone somewhere else so the city needs a blanket policy to change parcels of land from the province to the city to be able to answer the call for land when it comes and bring industry here. There are 116 properties in the city’s jurisdiction that belong to the province.

You Can Expand Your Knowledge of Book Keeping.

Community Futures Greenstone is offering a free in person Build a Better Business workshop tomorrow night.  General Manager Becky Cianflone says it covers book keeping basics…..

 

“This workshop is intended to be very introductory level so it’s going to talk about some of the basic steps, setting up your chartered account, some common transactions that you need to know about as a business person and then also when you need to consider hiring someone or bringing in additional expertise to help you manage your books.”

 

The free workshop is being held tomorrow night from 7 to 9 at their office at 79 Main Street.  You can register by calling them at 204-687-6967.

Your Support Helped the Salvation Army Have a Successful Christmas Season.

Salvation Army Lieutenant Mark Burford reports they had a successful Christmas kettle and hamper program in the Flin Flon area……

 

“We did 176 Christmas hampers which supports the communities of Flin Flon, Creighton, Denare Beach, Cranberry Portage and Cold Lake-Sherridon. One of the new things we instituted this year was the extra large Christmas hamper which helps support some of the larger families that are in need this year.  And overall in terms of money raised for the Flin Flon Salvation Army we raised over 40 thousand dollars.  We raised $40,708.37.  On the kettles we raised $26,809.37 and through our mail out campaign we received $13,899 even.”

 

Lieutenant Burford added a big part of their success was due to the community and their volunteers and they are very grateful for the support they received this year.

Regular Eye Exams Are Recommended to Hold Off the Silent Thief of Sight.

Known as the Silent Thief of Sight glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide that affects nearly 800 thousand Canadians today.  Yet according to a national survey by the Canadian Ophthalmological Society less than half of Canadians are familiar with glaucoma.  For Glaucoma Awareness Month the society is reminding Canadians of the importance of regular comprehensive eye exams as it’s the only way to detect this eye disease and prevent permanent vision loss.

             

Society President Dr. Phil Hooper explains damage to the eye from this disease of the optic nerve often develops slowly over long periods of time with few symptoms and the damage once done is irreversible.  He adds while there is no cure at this time medication and surgery can help you live with the disease and slow its progress. 

He recommends if you have any concerns about changes to your vision especially if over the age of 50 it’s important to communicate with a healthcare provider so they can determine if ophthalmologist intervention is the best course of action.

Snowmobilers are Heading South This Week in a Fund Raising Ride.

The Lions Journey for Sight starts in Flin Flon at 9:45 Wednesday morning.  The Journey is an annual fundraiser for the Lions Eye Bank of Manitoba and Northwest Ontario.  Committee Chair Dave Mullin of the Swan River Lions Club says about 25 snowmobilers from across Manitoba will leave from the Walmart parking lot with a stop in Cranberry Portage before spending the night in The Pas….

 

“The second day we leave The Pas.  We’ll stop at a few places as far as Mafeking, Overflow and Bowsman on the way down and we’ll end up in Swan River and spend the night there.  The next day we’ll split between the two groups and one group goes the Dauphin way stopping at all kinds of places at Ethelbert, Gilbert Plains all the way around there and another group will go through Benito, Roblin, Russell, Binscarth and end up in Birtle.  And then that last day we meet up at Neepawa for lunch, stop at a couple of different places on the way and then we’ll head down toward Carberry, hit the number one highway and Saturday about four o’clock we’ll be in Brandon.”

 

In the past the Journey has raised between 70 and 80 thousand dollars for the Lions Eye Bank.

 

It seems like half of Canadian workers plan to look for a new job despite economic uncertainty.

The survey by Robert Half finds those most likely to make a career move in early 2023 are Gen X and Millennials at 56 per cent and those who have been with their employer for two to four years at 61 per cent.

 

Working parents and tech professionals also indicated they would look for jobs at 55 per cent and 57 per cent respectively.

 

Spokesperson Mike Shektman was asked how Manitoba measures up to the rest of the country.......

 

“When you’re looking at Manitoba as a whole just to put it in perspective the November Stats Canada report that came out unemployment is now sitting at 4.4 percent.  When you actually drill down right across the Manitoba market and you’re looking at specifically in business, finance and administration unemployment is actually below 2 percent sitting at 1.8 so we’re seeing many organizations finding it really difficult to find those skilled workers that with driving still very much Canada’s driven market.”

 

Reasons for many Canadians looking for a new job include a higher salary, better benefits and perks, advancement opportunities, and flexibility on where and when they work.

At approximately 2:25 Wednesday morning RCMP were called to assist local EMS with an injured man at a residence in Pelican Narrows.

Officers located a man who appeared to have sustained a life-threatening injury. He was immediately transported to a local hospital by EMS for treatment and was declared deceased shortly after. He has been identified as 34-year-old Dalton Linklater from Pelican Narrows. 

Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes has taken carriage of the investigation, which is being considered a homicide.  

Investigators are conducting witness interviews and examining the scene to create a detailed picture of the incident. The RCMP have been in communication with the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation to relay steps residents can take to help maintain their safety. Residents can expect to see an increased police presence for an undetermined amount of time as police investigate the incident. 

Anyone with information on this incident or any suspicious activity is asked to contact Pelican Narrows RCMP by calling 306-632-3300 or their local police service. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.

Funding Has Been Received to Support a Drill Program Near Snow Lake.

Foremost Lithium Resource and Technology has been approved for a 300 thousand dollar grant for a second time in just over two years from the Manitoba Mineral Development Fund.  The fund was launched by the Manitoba government in August 2020 with the goal of jump starting mineral and economic development initiatives throughout the province.  The fund will support and advance the ongoing 2022-23 three thousand meter diamond drill program on its Jean Lake Lithium Project in the Snow Lake area.

             

The company states it is intended that ongoing exploration this year on the Lithium Lane’s Snow Lake properties will include focused prospecting and surficial geochemical surveys designed to follow up drone assisted magnetic and LIDAR surveys on the Grass River, Zoro and Peg North properties.

             

Foremost President Jason Barnard notes with this assistance from the MMDF and the government of Manitoba they plan to contribute to the growth and prosperity of Snow Lake and nearby communities.

Applications Have Opened For Charities and Non-Profits Funding.

The Community Services Recovery Fund has opened for applications.  The fund is a 400 million dollar investment from the Canadian government with the Canadian Red Cross working in collaboration with the Community Foundations of Canada and United Way Centraide Canada to distribute grants through this fund.  Red Cross spokesperson Jason Small explains….

 

“The funding is to help non-profit organizations, charities and Indigenous governing bodies to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and those organizations need to look at what their needs are and they can apply for the funds at www.communityservicesrecoveryfund.ca and that website will also have all the information about the criteria and how they can go through the application process.”

 

The Funds main goals are to strengthen organization’s ways of working to build back stronger while considering new approaches, adaptation to ensure organization’s processes are flexible and agile to quickly prepare for new conditions and resiliency to anticipate, withstand, respond and recover from future disruptions and crises.

The deadline for applications is February 21st

 

A Time For Reflection and Prayer Begins Sunday.

 Flin Flon Creighton Ministerial invites you to take part in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity starting Sunday.  Organizer Harry Hobbs explains services will be held in various churches next week under the theme Do Good:Seek Justice…….

 

“It will be kicking off Sunday evening with the first night at the Lutheran Church.  We’ll have the guest speaker as Reg Friesen.  The next night will be the 17th at the Alliance Church with Mark and Kelsie Burford doing the sermon that evening.  Wednesday will be at the Baptist Church with Father Paul Bringleson preaching and Thursday Father Paul will also be preaching at St. Ann’s Church and they all begin at 7 o’clock.  Everybody in the community is welcome to come.  After the service there will be some time for fellowship and coffee and a chance to visit.  It’s the first time we have had this live since 2019 so we’re looking forward to doing this once more.”

 

Hobbs urges you to check their Facebook page Flin Flon Week of Prayer daily January 14th to 21st for a time of reflection.

 

Northern Manitoba Member of Parliament Niki Ashton says the need for infrastructure that addresses the impact of climate change in the north is paramount.

Ashton explains climate change has a disproportionate impact on northern communities pointing to the shortening ice road season.

 

She says the governing Liberals need to invest in all-weather roads adding that she put forward a private member’s bill to address this.......

 

“We covered a lot of ground, unfortunately it didn’t pass but we were able to push the Feds to recognize that they’re not doing enough on this front and unfortunately Justin Trudeau and the Liberals are travelling the world but also here in our country pretending that they’re taking the action we need on the international stage when it comes to climate change but we know and the Auditor General reported that First Nations for example are not receiving the support they need from the Federal government when it comes to infrastructure in the face of climate change.  We know that here in our communities we need a lot of support.”

 

Ashton adds there are benefits to bettering infrastructure as it creates jobs and improves road connectivity in the north.

 

The Sounds of Brazil Are Coming to Flin Flon Next Week.

The Flin Flon Arts Council is featuring Marco Castillo with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra Saturday January 21st. Castillo originally from Rio Di Janeiro and now from Winnipeg explains what the show will offer….

 

“The music has this particularity of taking you to whatever place you want, if not physically.  Just close your eyes and you feel like you are in Rio Di Janeiro or on a beautiful tropical beach. So that’s the idea of this show. We put together a lot of music, pretty much Brazilian music and there’s a couple of originals of my own and with wonderful arrangements from other people.  I think it is going to be super nice and I’m super excited to play this show.  It’s always a blast to play with the WJO, it’s a constellation of wonderful talented musicians.”

 

The show takes place Saturday January 21st at 7:30 in the Flin Flon Community Hall. Tickets are available at the Uptown Emporium or online at www.flinflonartscouncil.ca.

 

The Economy in Northern Manitoba Will Be Taken to the House of Commons.

Northern Manitoba Member of Parliament Niki Ashton says she’s looking forward to fighting to improve the economic situation in the north this year.......

 

“We provide a lot of the wealth that this country depends on and we don’t see that wealth come back to our communities and we’re seeing less and less of that as Canada becomes more unequal and so for me it’s going to be important as our economic situation nationally becomes more challenging that we be a strong voice that it’s not working people and people on fixed incomes that created the kind of inequality that we’re facing, that it’s not our communities that created the inflation crisis, that we need to be going after those who aren’t paying their fair share who are reaping the benefits of our unequal system and that’s the ultra-rich so I’m looking forward to holding the Liberals to account on this front.”

 

Ashton also mentioned she would hold the opposition Conservatives to account as she says they vote against working people and our communities’ interest.

 

She goes on to say that she looks forward to hearing from constituents in 2023 and visiting the various communities she represents throughout the year.

Input is Needed to Support Our Tourism Industry.

The Communities Economic Development Fund and Look North are recognizing the importance of supporting the tourism industry in northern Manitoba. Their Manager of Programs and Projects Leanne Brown says they are working with Canada Ecotourism Services…..

 

“We’re looking for information on what are the needs of the tourism industry with respect to workforce needs and ensuring that we’ve got the necessary training programs in place to respond to those needs of the tourism industry so through this assessment and study what Canadian Ecotourism Services will be doing is looking at tourism providers, tourism stakeholders to identify what those needs are and in completion of that what we’re going to do is provide a report over to UCN who will then develop programs that will assist the needs that are identified within the tourism industry to develop the workforce and capacity.”

 

If you are interested in providing input contact CEDF at admin@cedf.mb.ca or call 1-800-561-4315.

 

A documentary that shines a spotlight on northern Manitoba artists is now available for people to view.

Andria Stephens, the co-founder of the Mall of the Arts in Thompson, talks about the film......

 

“There’s so much talent in northern Manitoba and if you go to other places in Manitoba or other places in Canada people don’t really look at it as a place that would have a creative pool of people so when we came here we didn’t know that either and we’ve been here for about nine years and were kind of blown away by the kind of talent that is in northern Manitoba and just the fact that we were introduced to and found so many talented artists and that people weren’t knowing that and there was no place for them to shine was what we wanted to bring to the forefront of the world.”

 

The 38-minute documentary is available on the Mall of the Arts YouTube channel.

A Flin Flon Woman has Been Located Deceased.

Flin Flon RCMP reported 27 year old Kara Fosseneuve had been missing since December 31st.  This morning they reported she has been located deceased.  They point out Criminality does not appear to be a factor.  An autopsy will take place.  The investigation continues.

It Was Another Successful Year of Recycling.

The year end totals are in for last year at the Flin Flon Recycling Centre.  Administrator Deb Odegaard says they were busy through 2022 ……..

 

“We did 510 tonnes of regular recycling which is like cardboard, aluminum, glass, office paper, books, the packaging that comes out of your home, three loads of E-waste for 26 and a half tonnes, we did 911 kilograms of household batteries, 97 boxes of fluorescent bulbs, 3 tub skids of gasoline, that‘s like a box like a pallet, 20 of paint and 29 barrels of other hazardous waste so it was another successful year.”

             

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

 

January is Alzheimer's Awareness Month.

This year Alzheimer Society Manitoba is shining a spotlight on its First Link Program. The program connects families impacted by dementia to services, supports, and resources at any point post-diagnosis. This year’s theme is “Community Changes Everything” which spokesperson Liz McLeod explains.....

 

“We’re focused on connecting to a community and we are part of the community and people who have had a diagnosis and their families are part of the community so what we’re trying to do is to help them understand that as soon as they can get in touch with us the better because they can find so many different supports, they can find out what they need to know right away, for example getting a Power of Attorney so that they have their ducks in a row and that way people feel they are still in charge and they are still in charge.”

 

More than 18 thousand Manitobans are living with dementia today and that number is expected to reach over 39 thousand by 2050.

 

To learn more or get connected to supports contact the Alzheimer Society at 1-800-378-6699 or visit www.alzheimer.mb.ca.

 

Flin Flon RCMP Are Looking for a Missing Woman.

Around midnight last Thursday RCMP received a report of a missing 27 year old woman from Flin Flon.

Kara Fosseneuve was last seen on December 31st when she left a residence on Dadson Row.  She has not been heard from since.  She left the residence on foot in an unknown direction and doesn’t have her cell phone.

             

Officers patrolled looking for Kara and spoke with her friends and family following up on multiple leads however Kara remains missing.  Creighton RCMP have been engaged in case she went to Creighton.

             

Kara is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, 150 pounds with long black hair.  She was wearing a black jacket, cut off blue jeans and black boots when she was last seen.

             

Anyone with information can call Flin Flon RCMP at 204-687-1423, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

 

Local Talent is Needed for a Spring Stage Production.

The Ham Sandwich Theatre Group is preparing for their spring production.  Director Joe Buie says he is looking for cast members for The Red Plaid Shirt…..

 

“I’m looking for a cast of four people, two male, two female and it’s a comedy about retirement, so the kind of things that we do when we retire, what we’re going to do next.  It’s going to be a good show by a Canadian playwright so we’ll see how many people come out to audition and I’ll also need other people to help out with the play itself.”

 

The show will be performed March10th and 11th.  Auditions take place Tuesday at 7 in the Flin Flon Community Hall. You can also email Joe if you would like to try out or need more information at joebuie@mymts.net.

 

 

You can apply for Grants for Your Group or Organization.

The Northern Neighbors Foundation is accepting applications for grants they make available each year.  Their Chairperson Jane Robillard says they have around 100 thousand dollars to award and grants are available in the communities of Flin Flon, Creighton, Denare Beach, Cranberry Portage, Snow Lake and Sherridon…..

 

“Anybody that is a registered charity can apply and grants can be in the fields of arts and culture, education, environment, health, heritage or recreation and sports so that covers a lot of groups in our community.”

             

Information and application forms can be found at the public library, on their website www.northernneighbors.com or call Jane at 204-687-6488 and will be accepted through the mail to Box 802, Flin Flon, R8A 1N6 or they can be sent by email to northernneighborsfoundation@gmail.com.  The deadline to apply is February 15th.

November Was a Fairly Quiet Month for the Flin Flon Fire Department.

Flin Flon City Council accepted the Fire Chiefs report for November at their meeting Tuesday night indicating four calls during the month. There were two calls to motor vehicle collisions.  On the 8th they were called to Channing Drive and Third Avenue where a vehicle had struck another vehicle and both were on the train tracks.  Crews responded and assisted with traffic control.  They were able to separate and remove the vehicles from the train tracks and left the scene in control of the RCMP.  On the 17th they were called to an accident on Main Street.  They found the two vehicles with minor damage and assisted with patients to the ambulance.

             

During the month they also received two calls to assist EMS with patient removal.

             

Also at Tuesday’s meeting Council was advised the Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization will be holding nine Municipal Emergency Workshops across the province with one in Flin Flon January 19th to be attended by local authority leadership, emergency management program staff and all personnel that are expected to play a role in local authority emergency management in order to enhance resiliency in municipal emergency management programs.  City Council will be represented at the workshop.

 

Numbers Have Been Released for Operation Red Nose Nationally and Provincially.

Operation Red Nose’s road safety campaign took place in 74 host communities across Canada from November 25th to December 31st.  With a mission to make roads safer during the holiday season the organization managed to mobilize almost 23 thousand volunteers in the country who, by joining forces, were able to provide 26,412 motorists and their passengers with a safe ride home. In Manitoba, 1448 people braved winter conditions to provide 1873 safe rides to their fellow citizens.

The Founder of Operation Red Nose Jean-Marie De Konnick says Operation Red Nose is an initiative provided to the community by the community. She noted a lot of preparation goes into the campaign and challenges to put teams on the road are numerous. She adds without the dedication of thousands of volunteers, this unusual idea back in 1984, could not have aspired to such consistent success year after year and I want to thank these generous people from the bottom of my heart.

Water Rates and an Archive Board Went Through Their First Steps at the Flin Flon City Council Meeting Last Night.

Council passed on first reading a bylaw to establish monthly rates to be charged for water supplied and sewage service to all properties abutting or serviced by water and sewer in the City.  All unmetered services, metered services and water delivery will experience no increase in 2023.  The water bills will actually be going down by $5.06 due to the elimination of a deficit reduction rider for a previous utilities deficit that has been paid off. The bylaw requires two more readings before passing.

             

Council also passed on first reading a bylaw formalize the establishment of an eight member Archive Board to collect, store, present and share the rich history of Flin Flon for future generations. It will include Flin Flon City Council, a resident of Creighton and Denare Beach, representatives of Hudbay Minerals, the Library Board, Flin Flon School Division and two members at large appointed by Flin Flon City Council.

             

Council also agreed to support the landfill site investigation, remedial action plan and landfill master plan and the Flin Flon wastewater system assessment grant applications to the Building Sustainable Communities Program.  The assessments will show the city where they are and what they should be doing with these facilities.

Operation Red Nose Saw Fewer People Getting a Ride Home This Holiday Season.

Operation Red Nose has wrapped up another holiday season of getting people and their vehicles home safely.  The Rotary Club’s Committee Chair Ted Hewitt says New Years Eve saw 14 rides with volunteers from the Rotary Club and other community members. Overall he reports this past Red Nose season has pluses and minuses……

 

“The pluses were great advertising support from CFAR, financial donations from local businesses, volunteer support from area organizations, free lunches for volunteers from area food establishments and gas certificates from local gas stations.  The minuses were a lack of use of the service, less than half of ridership in previous years.  The Rotary Club will be reviewing this issue and will have an improved plan to increase ridership for Red Nose service next December.  Operation Red Nose is a great service for our community in keeping our roads safe and supporting activities for children.”

 

Hewitt added his thanks to all who supported the service this year.

 

Funding Will Support Construction of a Mining Project West of Flin Flon.

Foran Mining Corporation has announced the closing of a 150 million dollar US senior secured project credit facility with a fund managed by Sprott Resource Lending Corporation. Funds from the Credit Facility will be used towards construction of the McIlvenna Bay project 65 kilometers west of Flin Flon.

             

Foran’s Executive Chairman and CEO Dan Myerson states the transaction with Sprott provides them with the flexibility to continue their three pronged strategy at an attractive cost of capital as they set out to advance McIlvenna Bay to full construction.  Managing partner of Sprott Narinder Nagra notes their financing of Foran is consistent with their strategy to provide innovative and flexible capital to maximize the value of exceptional projects which McIlvenna Bay is and support world class management teams.

             

Foran adds following the closing of the credit facility definitive documentation for the Ontario Teacher’s Pension Plan Board’s proposed investment of up to 200 million dollars Canadian first announced in August can now be completed and is expected to close in due course.

Your Pharmacist Can Support You with Your New Years Resolution to Quit Smoking.

Pharmacists Manitoba launched a Social Impact Bond with the Manitoba Government last April referred to as Quit Smoking With Your Manitoba Pharmacist.  The goal is to help 45 hundred Manitobans become smoke free by March 31st, 2025.  In Flin Flon the Phamasave Health Centre at 31 Church Street is part of the program.

             

Individuals eligible for this program must be 18 years of age or older, be a Manitoba resident with a valid Manitoba Health Card and consent to participate in the program.  Individuals involved will receive up to a one hundred dollar subsidy towards smoking cessation products along with counseling sessions.

             

CEO of Pharmacists Manitoba Tanjit Nagra notes quitting smoking is not an easy task but they hope with the help of a pharmacist and resources made available through this initiative interested participants will feel motivated and supported every step of the way.

             

For more information on booking an initial appointment go online to www.quitsmokingmb.ca.

Manitoba Conservation Officers are Continuing Enforcement to Protect the Provinces Natural Resources.

Manitoba Natural Resources and Northern Development reports between July 1st to December 16th conservation officers conducted 131 night patrols designed and coordinated to stop illegal night hunting activities 36 of which utilized aircraft.  They apprehended 11 separate night hunting parties, charged 24 individuals for night lighting and seized 11 vehicles.  They charged 17 individuals with hunting within a moose conservation closure area, 37 with loading a firearm in a vehicle or discharging a firearm from a vehicle, seized 64 firearms, executed five search warrants, conducted 11 fish and wildlife checkstops and conducted 45 decoy operations.  They also seized 36 illegally harvested big game animals including 24 deer, five moose, six elk and one wolf.

             

Anyone with information on illegal activity can call the Turn in Poachers line at 1-800-782-0076.

 

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