Community Futures Greenstone will be holding their annual Biz Kids Summer Day Camp at different locations throughout the North this summer,  and Kailey Oulette the summer camp co-ordinator outlines some of the activities the kids will be doing.

"  Biz Kids is a week long summer day camp where kids get to engage in workshops and classroom activities while they develop their entrepreneuial skills. During the week the students will design their own business and create a product that they will have a chance to sell at a real life market. Biz Kids embraces both learning and fun while it offers a dynamic camp experience, where morning are filled with engaging classroom sessions and afternoons are dedicated to outdoor activities. Some of our past activities have included going to MS B'S Ceramic Studio, going to the Petting Zoo and beach activities."

The camp will take place in Flin Flon July the 22^nd to the 26^th and will also take place in Creighton, Cranberry and Snow Lake. You can sign up at admin@cfgreenstone.com or call 204-687-6967. There is a $60.00 registration fee.

One of the first events for families to enjoy this summer is Canuck  Amusements who are bringing their midway to Creighton starting today.

The midway will be set up in the Creighton Sportex parking lot  and will open up at 5 this afternoon. It starts at noon tomorrow and Sunday and closing time will depend on crowds and weather.

Daily wristbands are $35.00 and are valid on the day purchased. You can also purchase tickets for individual rides.

There will be ATM and Debit available on site.

So feel free to stop by and enjoy the amusement rides, win a Teddy Bear and enjoy your favorite carnival treats.

AT THEIR MEETING EARLIER THIS WEEK THE FFSD TRUSTEES APPROVED THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE JOINT FIVE YEAR CONTRACT WITH FIRST STUDENT FROM SEPTEMBER 2024 UNTIL JUNE 2029.

DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT TAMMY BALLANTYNE CONVEYED A THANK YOU TO ALL STAFF,STUDENTS AND FAMILIES FOR THEIR PATIENCE WHILE THE DIVISION WORKED THROUGH THE RECENT COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES DUE TO THE WILDFIRES.

THE TRUSTEES AGREED TO PASS THE MOTION THAT THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OR VICE CHAIR,WITH THE SECRETARY-TREASURER BE GRANTED SIGNING AUTHORITY ON EMPLOYEE CONTRACTS DURING THE 2024/2025 SCHOOL YEAR.

THEY ALSO AGREED ON THE MOTION THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE SECRETARY-TREASURER BE GRANTED SIGNING AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF THE FFSD DURING THE 2024/2025 SCHOOL YEAR.

IN CLOSING BOARD CHAIR JACKIE HUCALUK EXPRESSED HER THANK YOUS TO THE STAFF WHO WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND EARLIER THIS MONTH WITH THE WILDFIRE SITUATION WHICH INCLUDED DEVISING A PLAN IN CASE OUR COMMUNITY IS EVACUATED. SHE STATED THAT  IN TIMES LIKE THIS THE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE THOUGHT AND WORRIED ABOUT EVEN WHEN SCHOOL IS DONE FOR THE DAY.

The Main Street Committee has been re-established and continue to find ways to beautify and re- develop Flin Flon’s Main Street. A lot of projects are being planned for the summer and the chair of the organization  Mike Slipp tells us  exciting developments are ahead.

" You know,  the goal is to make Main Street a more inviting prettier place to go. We have been working on a lot of things including better lighting on Main Street and different ideas like that. We are working through the City with the budget to get grants to business's where they can fix up the fassad, so they pay half and the city pays half."

If you are a business on Main street and would like to get involved you can contact Mike Slipp or Crystal Kolt and you can show up for the next meeting on Monday June the 17^th at Council Chambers at noon.

On Tuesday  at 9:45 am, Flin Flon RCMP received a report of a missing 24-year-old man from an address located on Creekside Drive in Flin Flon.

Trevin Steele was last seen on May 23 at approximately 7:30 pm and last made contact with a family member on May 24 at 3:00 am.

He’s described as being 5’9” in height, 130lbs with brown hair, brown eyes and wears glasses. He was last seen wearing a green plaid jacket with white sweat pants, white runners and a hat.

RCMP and his family are concerned for his wellbeing. Officers have made extensive patrols around the Flin Flon and Creighton area without success.

If you have any information on his whereabouts, please call the Flin Flon RCMP at 204-687-1422, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

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The Vocational Training Centre has moved to a new location at 304 Green Street.  Not only is the Vocational Training Centre a good place to pick up a lot of useful items , it continues to allow their clients to work  and be part of the community.

Sam Thormbert the Executive Director says the move has gone smoothly and they have a lot of items to check out .  "  All the donations we get here are from the community members  so we are very fortunate. We get clothing, houseware, kitchenware, small furniture, night stands and little tables like that. Anything from shirts to pants, underwear and socks we will take , any kind of storage containers, toys, children's apparel, anything that the community wants to donate to us." 

They are open Monday to Friday from 10 to 5:30 and with the bigger building they can offer more selection to the public. They are in need of kitchen items including small appliances, dishes, cutlery and pots and pans. If you would like to make a donation you can stop by their store and go to the front desk.

On Saturday , at approximately 11:55 pm, Thompson RCMP responded to a report of an assault at a business establishment located on Moak Crescent .

It was reported that one of the employees had been assaulted followed by a group of five males fighting outside. One of the suspects had been observed brandishing a handgun while threatening other employees. The suspects then entered a vehicle and fled the scene.

The 25-year-old male employee was transported to hospital where he was treated and released.

Officers attended and immediately located the suspect’s vehicle a short distance away on Nelson Road where a traffic stop was initiated.

Officers arrested the five suspects without incident. A search of the suspects led to the seizure of a large sum of cash but the firearm was not recovered.

RCMP have charged the following individuals in relation to this incident;

• Delson Acoby, 20, of Winnipeg
• Kash Morris, 18, of Thompson
• Thor Monias, 22, of no fixed address

The two other males (22, 21) were later released from custody without charge.

Thompson RCMP continue to investigate.

Manitoba Conservation continues to update residents on the current wildfire situation that is happening around the Flin Flon area.

Good progress is being made and The Sourdough Bay Fire is now classified as Under Control and several scans have now been completed around the perimeter.  Crews have extinguished all spots along the edge, securing the fire from further spread.

A grid scan is scheduled for the southern portion north of Cranberry Portage. Crews will continue to extinguish hot spots within the burn over the next number of days. There are 21 crews, 6 helicopters and about 20 support staff that continue to work on the fire.

You can continue to follow updates at the city of flin flon.ca or gov.mb.ca.

The Wahkohtowin Trails Committee were able to open their first trail this past weekend after months of organizing , work bees and donations and volunteer Christine Williams tells us where it is located.

"  As of this weekend the trail unofficially opened at Bakers Narrows and we are inviting hikers to try it out. It is a 1.6 km trail and it winds through natural ground so there are a few uneven surfaces, we didn't haul in rock or anything like that. We recommend runners or hiking shoes, no sandals. As you are walking there are four scenic outlooks and this trail is located at Phantom Lake."

Williams went on to say that they have already seen a number of people come out and use the trail and look forward to opening more soon . They are still waiting for signage to arrive, and when it does they will have an official grand opening.If you would like to find out more , you can join them for a meeting the second Tuesday of each month with the next one scheduled for June 11^th at the Creighton Tourism office. You can also email skolenosky@gmail.com.

The Thompson Chamber of Commerce will host the first NORTHERN TRANSPORTATION SYMPOSIUM in Thompson, on September 5^th and 6^th. This will be one of the most important gatherings in Northern Manitoba held in decades to explore current transportation challenges and opportunities for economic development, sustainable growth, and improved health and social well-being.

This two-day symposium will bring together transportation providers and experts to explore opportunities for growth and innovation to better serve the North. The different modes and carriers would involve air, road, rail as well as new methods of travel and cargo hauling such as airships, drones, zero emission vehicles, and even a rail-bus.

Dr. Barry Prentice, Director of Manitoba’s Transport Institute will be one of our keynote speakers.    Volker Beckmann, Thompson Chamber of Commerce Director and Event Manager, explains that attendees at the Symposium will hear from experts in their field and may participate in breakout sessions to identify challenges and promising ideas for improvement.

 For more information and to register you can  contact the Thompson Chamber of Commerce at 204-677-4155, or email at commerce@mymts.net.  

Wize Kidnetic Energy Day camp is coming back to Flin Flon July the 29^th to August the 2^nd and will be taking place at McIsaac school. This is the day camp being put on in conjunction with the University of Manitoba and will focus on having fun and learning about science, technology, engineering and math.

Amy Skelton from the U of M gives us a break down of the different themes they will be featuring. " Day one will be construction, architecture where they can see where stem is incorporated in that. Day two is going to be plant and fugi, so we will doing activities that teach about the layers of the soil. Day three will be forensic science day where campers will enter the world as a crime scene investigator. The fourth day is marine biology where they will be looking at marine animals of the sky and sea and look at their environments. The final day will focus on the science of sound,  where campers will learn more about how music is made and have an opportunity to make music and explore  sound on their own." 

It is open to kids 9 to 12 and will take place 9 to 4 each day. You can register at wizekidneticenergy.ca.

Cranberry is trying to get back to normal after the recent wildfire and will be holding their first outdoor artisan market  of the summer this weekend.

Organizer Barb Bragg invites everyone to come out for a good time.

"  We are looking forward to a big celebration because everyone in Cranberry is back home which is great after the evacuation. We did have to postpone for a week , but we felt that weas everyone and we actually got a few more vendors. We have our music which is Holly Freeborn and the No Name band, we have our food vendors who will be supporting the  Frontier Collegiate Grad Committee and then about 28 vendors who are coming to Cranberry."

It takes place at the Cranberry Portage Heritage Museum Grounds this Saturday from 11 to 3. If you would like to register a vendor you can do so at cpartisanmarket@gmail.com or text 204-680-6003. Something brand new this year will be the Artist At Work demonstration tent featuring Lars Stoltz who will be woodworking with a butter knife.

AT THEIR MEETING EARLIER THIS WEEK THE TOWN COUNCIL OF CREIGHTON REPORTED RECEIVING A REQUEST FROM THE FLIN FLON TROUT FESTIVAL FOR A DONATION TOWARDS THIS YEARS FISHING DERBY. THIS WAS REFERRED FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION AND MAYOR BRUCE FIDDLER DID COMMENT THAT A DECISION WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE QUICKLY AS THE EVENT STARTS MAY THE 29th.

COUNCIL PASSED A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO SIGN THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE NORTHERN HEALTH REGION,CITY OF FLIN FLON,TOWN OF CREIGHTON,AND NORTHLANDS COLLEGE TO FORMALIZE A COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP TO ENHANCE PROFESSIONAL AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT,SERVICE DELIVERY,AND COMMUNITY WELL BEING IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF MANITOBA
AND SASKATCHEWAN. THE MAYOR DID COMMENT THAT PLANS ARE IN THE WORKS TO HOST AN OFFICIAL SIGNING BY MID JUNE WELCOMING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SASKATCHEWAN AND MANITOBA GOVERNMENTS.
 

COUNCIL AGREED TO DONATE $350 DOLLARS TO THE WAHKOHTOWIN TRAILS COMMITTEE ASSISTING WITH THIS YEARS INSURANCE COVERAGE. 

THE TOWN WILL ALSO BE DONATING $100 DOLLARS AND A CREIGHTON HOODIE TO THE FLIN FLON LIONS CLUB SUPPORTING THEIR PET VALU DOG WALK JUNE 8th AT FLINTYS BOARDWALK.

 A DONATION OF $3000 DOLLARS WAS ALSO MADE TO THE CREIGHTON CONNECTION

FOR USE OF THE TRANSIT VAN EARLIER THIS YEAR TO THE SUMA CONVENTION IN REGINA.

The City Of Flin Flon hosted their annual budget meeting in Council Chambers on Wednesday night.

Chief Administrative Officer Lynne Brown chaired the meeting and was able to break down the numbers for the rest of 2024 and beyond.

The biggest forms of revenue for the city are taxes which make up 40%  with grants bringing in just over 30 %. The biggest expenses are public works at just over 30 % and recreation and culture at about 25%,

Brown talked about the different planning and developments which will help lead our community forward including affordable housing, industry attraction and diversification, attractive leisure activities and wellness facilities, community safety initiatives and downtown initiatives.

One of the big concerns that have come from the community are structural improvements and repairs, mainly due to  roads and the city has budgeted $425,000.00 . One big project will be repairing Main street between the old CO-OP and the Dental Clinic. They will be ripping the road out and replacing it with the work to be started after the Trout Festival.

There is also a plan to work with 6 neighboring communities to share two landfills. The city has hired an engineering company to look at the current landfill and determine how much longer it can keep going. They are currently looking at an alternate location.

Another cost cutting measure the city is looking at is decreasing some staff and leasing equipment as opposed to buying it.

The City went on to say this is what we can expect for 2025 Increased Municipal Core Funding, increased income through land sales and business development, targeted fundraising in particular the new Aqua Centre, major capital projects and increased grant applications for infrastructure projects.

If you would like a more thorough breakdown of the budget you can go to the city’s website at cityofflinflon.ca.

NDP MP Niki Ashton representing (Churchill-Keewatinook Aski) called on Trudeau’s Liberals to do more to protect the northern and rural communities impacted by wildfires.
 
The recent fires in Northern Manitoba burned through fibre optic and telecom lines, leaving residents in  Flin Flon and the surrounding areas  without any internet or cell service for days.
 
Ashton went on to comment that wildfire season is just starting and is causing more destruction because of climate change. She went on to add that it is unacceptable to expect and rely on private companies to fix these infrastructure issues.

Ashton is calling on the federal government to use its jurisdiction over telecommunications companies and show leadership to ensure critical infrastructure plans are in place for communities during climate emergencies 
 

You can support the Flin Flon Creighton area SPCA this weekend with a couple of fundraisers happening on Saturday.

They will host a garage sale from 9 to 3 at the Sportex and Flinty’s Hammer will perform at Johnny’s Social Club later that night starting at 10.

One of the staff members Britney Monchka lets us know what the money is used for.  "  It go's towards keeping our shelter going  as a lot of people know we are a non profit , so we don't get government grants and any extra care for our animals and bills. A majority of it go's towards our vet care, when we get animals in rough shape it takes a lot to get them to a proper place of getting them into a home. Their food, our wages, hydro bill and taxes. It takes roughly $150,000.00 a year just to keep the SPCA going in order to help these animals."

If you would like to donate to the garage sale you can drop off items at the Sportex til this Friday. Please no clothing or books. Tickets for the Johnny’s show are $10.00 and there will be draws for prizes throughout the night..

The Flin Flon Friendship Centre is getting ready for National  Indigenous Peoples day, now less  than a month away as it will take place on  June the 21^st.

Program Co-ordinator Joe Ann  Pelletier  has put the word out for vendors and performers.  "  So we are looking for some Indigenous vendors to come and showcase their wear and sell as well as performers. We are looking for singers, dancers, speakers, poem writers, Indigenous performers who want to come and celebrate Indigenous Culture with us that day."

You can contact Joe-Ann for all the details at 687-8852. 

Mayor George Fontaine started the meeting by complimenting everybody who has helped with this difficult situation including council members, the police, fire fighters,resources and media for helping get the word out.

Fontaine went on to say that the meetings that took place between Creighton, Denare Beach, the School Divisions, RCMP, Health Authority, and PBCN went very well and they covered everything from an evacuation plan to protecting their resources and who will be responsible for different roles if a situation happens to arise again.

The big thing is they will be prepared and now all the different groups will work together and are on the same page and will be able to use the same resources.

Councillor Dallas Funk commented that Cranberry has set up a go fund me page to help out the evacuees and over $10,000.00 has already been raised. The group Second Harvest reached out to the local food bank and delivered 13 pallets of food on Gardewine that will be distributed to 250 homes in Cranberry.

The pallets include produce, meat and eggs with the food bank donating the dry goods.

The city has made an agreement with the Manitoba Government for the Urban/Hometown Green team program that will give the city $33,000.00 to hire summer students that will work with Parks and Rec.

The city also wanted to remind people that the Budget meeting will take place tonight at 7pm in Council Chambers and welcomes everyone to come out.

The Flin Flon Community Garden  has received funding from Trees Canada to plant a food forest to support phase one of the City Of Flin Flon’s campground renovations.

The City’s Crystal Kolt gives us the details. " The Flin Flon Community Garden applied for funding through Trees Canada, a national organization that supports the development of trees in municipalities. It go's towards foods, beautification and revitilization and we got $10,000.00 and this will support the city."

The food forest will be planted over by the Gillis Park play structure on Dadson Rowe. You will be able to join the community garden team when they plant trees on Sunday June the 16^th from 1 to 5pm. You can contact Crystal Kolt for more information by emailing ckolt@flinflon.ca.

The Manitoba government is making emergency financial support available for residents of Cranberry and the surrounding cottage subdivisions who were evacuated because of the recent wildfire situation.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew made the announcement on Monday and said he knows the impact this fire has had on families in Cranberry and the surrounding sub divisions including Sourdough Bay, Whitefish Lake, Twin Lakes, Bakers Narrows and Schist Lake North.

This supplement is a one time assistance that is available to those that were evacuated 7 days or more. Eligible adults will receive $200.00 and children will receive $100.00. The supplement  will be issued in impacted communities to individuals and families who registered with an ESS Reception centre and who meet the eligibility criteria.

If you have been impacted by the wildfire situation in Manitoba and require further assistance dial 211 or toll free 1-855-275-1197.

The Manitoba Wildfire Service, the Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC), Manitoba Emergency Management Organization (EMO) and the Manitoba Fire Service continue to respond to the two active fires in the area around Flin Flon and The Pas. Continued favourable weather conditions and work by crews on the fire have lessened their impacts and have enabled residents of affected communities to return home as of Sunday, May 19. 

Fire WE010 near Flin Flon remains approximately 37,000 hectares. The fireline closest to Cranberry Portage is under control and crews continue to make good progress in other areas. 

Residents of Cranberry Portage, Sourdough Bay, Whitefish Lake, Twin Lakes and Schist Lake North were able to return to their homes as of 10 a.m., Sunday, May 19. Barricades have now been lifted and Provincial Trunk Highway (PTH) 10 and the Sherridon access road has reopened to traffic. 

Eight properties were lost to the fire in Sourdough Bay: one permanent residence, five seasonal properties (cottages) and two garages. One permanent residence was lost in Twin Lakes. All property owners have been notified. Aerial crews have also identified a small number of structures believed to be damaged in the other areas affected by the fires that will be confirmed by ground crews in the coming weeks as well as damage to any other structures. 

Significant resources continue suppression efforts on fire WE010 including six water bombers, seven helicopters, over 200 provincial personnel, 40 firefighters from Ontario, five from Parks Canada, 20 from New Brunswick and 21 from Quebec. 

The province has been receiving reports of drones flying over fire WE010 and near airports in the area. The public is reminded use of drones near airports is illegal and dangerous to aircraft. 

Train service has been restored between Cranberry Portage and Pukatawagan. 

The Provincial Emergency Social Services reception centres at the Wescana Inn in The Pas and the Victoria Inn in Flin Flon have now closed. A supplemental evacuation allowance of $200 will be issued to those whose primary residences are in Cranberry Portage, Sourdough Bay, Whitefish Lake, Twin Lakes and Schist Lake North. Cheques will be available until end of day on Friday, May 24 at the Cranberry Portage Administrative Office (105 Portage Rd.) from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and in Flin Flon (102-143 Main St.) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., beginning tomorrow, May 22.

Smoke from the wildfire continues to impact communities in the area. Area residents are advised to take precautions to protect against harmful smoke inhalation including limiting outdoor activity, staying indoors with windows and doors closed, setting air conditioning units in homes and vehicles to recirculate to avoid drawing smoke indoors, and drinking plenty of water. 

Fire WE011 near Wanless north of The Pas is approximately 2,785 hectares and approximately 2.5 km from the community of Wanless. Crews are working to protect the hydro line between The Pas and Cranberry Portage. The fire is approximately 2 km away from PTH 10. Anyone travelling on PTH 10 may be impacted by poor visibility due to smoke. 

Campgrounds in Bakers Narrows and Grass River provincial parks remain closed until at least May 27 including Bakers Narrows, Gyles, Iskwasum Landing and Reed Lake. Backcountry travel along the Grass River from Cranberry Portage to Reed Lake is prohibited. Karst Spring Self-guiding Trail is closed. For updates visit www.manitobaparks.com. 

This season is a popular time for many Manitobans to go camping, open summer cottages and spend time outdoors. Visitors heading to Manitoba Parks should check for the latest fire restrictions and remember to only make fires in approved fire pits. Everyone is reminded to carefully observe fire prevention measures. Always monitor campfires, do not burn in windy conditions and be sure to extinguish campfires completely before leaving by soaking the fire with water and dirt, stirring with a stick or shovel, soaking the fire again and repeating the process until the air above is cool to the touch. 

Provincial burning permits are required for outdoor fires set within the burn permit area from April 1 to Nov. 15 annually. To check for municipal burning restrictions, visit https://gov.mb.ca/wildfire/burn_conditions.html. Burn permit holders are reminded to check weather conditions, have adequate suppression equipment and ensure proper fuel breaks are in place before burning. Never leave an outdoor fire unattended and always extinguish it before leaving and exercise caution when in or near forested areas. 

Further bulletins providing updates on fires WE010 and WE011 will be issued on an as-needed basis going forward. For ongoing updates and other fire information, including wildfire updates and conditions, burn permit information and further details and restrictions, visit https://gov.mb.ca/wildfire/ or follow the Manitoba government’s X (formerly known as Twitter) account at https://twitter.com/MBGovNews. To report a wildfire, call 911 or the TIP line (toll-free) at 1-800-782-0076. 

For more information:

• Public information, contact Manitoba Government Inquiry: 1-866-626-4862 or 204-

The 16^th  annual Manitoba Ride For Dad Motorcycle Run will take place in Winnipeg on Saturday May the 25^th. This is a fundraiser on behalf of prostate cancer awareness and education.

Flin Flon will have a rider, Nic Somers who is taking part for the 8^th time and  tells us why he decided to get involved.  " I stated doing that because I saw the advertising year after year on tv,  and by the time I got my scooter I could take on the highway I fugured it would be a great event to take in. The first time I went down it was such a positive experience so I kept going down and have been doing it since 2018."

If you would like to make a donation you can go to the website www.ridefordad.ca/manitoba. then you can search for Nicholas Somers and his name will pop up. You can also give him a call at 204-687-0765 to arrange a donation. Nic has raised over $5000.00 himself  through out the years and over $ 4 million has been raised province wide.

All the money raised will stay in Manitoba and go towards prevention and research of prostate cancer.

The Public Utilities Board has advised due to the wildfire situation around Flin Flon and Cranberry, the public hearing previously scheduled for the City Of Flin Flon Water and Wastewater Utility meeting on Monday May the 27^th at the FF Community Hall has been postponed til further notice.

The board will work with the City Of Flin Flon to determine an appropriate date for rescheduling the hearing. A new notice will be posted on the rescheduled date, time and location of the hearing.

Big news for evacuees from Cranberry Portage who will finally get to return home on Sunday with more information available in this press release from the RM of Kelsey.

Residents of Cranberry Portage

Please be advised that the Manitoba Wildfire Service has indicated that they will be allowing a full re-entry to the evacuated areas for fire WE010 (Cranberry Portage) beginning at 10AM on Sunday, May 19th.

*** IT WILL NOT HAPPEN SOONER ***

*** NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED ***

Please note that the evacuation order remains in place up until that time.

We have a Wildfire Evacuation Re-entry Checklist and a Guide to Evacuation Re-entry available in the Rendezvous room at the Wescana.

We will continue to update as the situation evolves and we get more information.

Residents of Wanless

Manitoba Wildfire Service has held the fire (WE011) and changed its status from Out Of Control to Being Held. The forecast for the next 24 hours looks favourable, with more rain.

Since we are just starting our wildfire season, we advise residents to keep their 72-hour plan in mind throughout the season.

To report a wildfire, call 911 or the TIP line (toll-free) at 1-800-782-0076

The Trout Festival will kick off this summer’s  festivities with the month long fishing derby which will begin on May the 29^th.

One of the organizers Dianne Russell tells us how you can register.

"  We are excited about the fishing derby and all you have to do is go to the Creighton Rec Tourism office, Village Of Denare Beach  office , Rubys Outdoors and the Tempo Gateway. There are packages there for both adults and childrenand you can get your stuff now including tapes, rules and Zebra information on keeping our lakes safe. It is very  affordible and the prices haven't changed so pick up your registrations and you should be good to go."

The derby runs from May the 29^th til June 29^th and entry fee is $30..00 for adults and $10.00 for kids 15 and under. Cash prizes will be awarded including  $15,00.00 for biggest in each species. You can go to flinflononline.com to submit your entry.

The Flin Flon MLA Tom Lindsay is reaching out to Flin Flon and the surrounding areas concerning the current wildfire situation and wants to let people know that he and his office will do what ever it takes to help people get necessary information , and help out in any way.

"  Being here I have been able to go directly to Minister's offices with concerns that people have raised and trying to get them addressed quicker. It is easier to talk to someone face to face as trying to do it over the internet. I just want people to know if they have concerns we have opened the office here in Flin Flon , you can phone 204-687- 3246 and Lyla will make sure I get those messages. I can get to ministers and try to get things addressed. We heard concerns right at the start and it has quieted down now and I get it that people get very stressed when you get evacuated and you are not sure what to do."

If you have any issues do not hesitate to reach out to Tom Lindsay’s office at 204-687-3246, and they will get things addressed. Lindsay is in Winnipeg but will be arriving back in Flin Flon on Friday.

Residents of Cranberry Portage

There are currently 240 personnel actioning the fire on the ground including The Pas Fire Department & Opaskwayak Cree Nation Fire Department, including 2 water bombers working on the east flank by Election Lake, and 6 helicopters are being utilized to snuff out hot spots. The weather outlook looks very favourable, with the rain overnight and today.

The fire is currently at 37,000 hectares but has minimal growth.

There has been no advancement in the community thanks to well-established fire breaks.

We remain in a state of emergency.
The evacuation order is still in place.

We will continue to update as the situation evolves and we get more information.

Residents of Wanless

The rain overnight made things very favorable and the structure of the fire has not changed overnight. It is still 2 km east of Hwy 10, as crews have a well-established fire break.

We will continue to update as the situation evolves and we get more information.

** If you live at Rocky Lake East, Rocky Lake North or Clearwater Lake, please dial 211 and you will be directed to the proper department if you need information specific to your area. **

Mayor George Fontaine stopped by CFAR  to give us an update on a plan that they are developing on working with the other communities and service organizations  as we deal with the wildfire situation .

"  We have been busy doing lots of things today, we have the Emergency Measures Organization people up here giving us their best advice. We did a tour with them this morning at the airport , so we are all aware of the same facts. What we decided today as we are going to work together in terms of communities. We had a meeting with the Town Of Creighton, Village Of Denare Beach, the health authority, the School Division and EMS. We will be meeting daily as long as this is any kind of an issue. We will look at plans, issues, programs, who does what and who's responsible for each job. We are working together and we are making  progress and we will meet again tomorrow and have more stakeholders involved, because the more people we have the more we can deal with our issues."

The city is asking residents who have vulnerabilities and or mobility issues to register with the city. You can do this two ways by calling the city at 204-681-7511 or by stopping by the City Hall office. If you have neighbors , friends, family who need assistance you can register on their behalf.

Art In The Wild will return in September to Flin Flon with funding from the Manitoba Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts.

If you would like to find out more about this program they will be holding an in person information session at the Ukrainian Orthodox church today between 4 and 6:30.

One of the creative minds behind this organization is Kristy Janvier who tells us what they will be covering later today.

"  We are having a open house and  for the past six weeks we have been doing creative workshops at the Ukrainian Orthodox church. We are inviting people to come and if they have any questions about the event or any ideas. We are looking for musicians, theatre, puppeteers, performance artists, visual arts and pretty much anything go's for Art In The Wild. This is an evening performance that happens once a year at the Flin Flon Campground and Rotary Wheel."

You can also get information by going to the website borealgatherings.com.

This past Saturday at approximately  4:10 am, Swan River RCMP received a report of a male walking around the community threatening people with an edged weapon, in Sapotaweyak Cree Nation.

 While officers were en route, they received an update advising the suspect had taken a family member’s vehicle and may have struck someone on an ATV.

Officers arrived and immediately began making patrols for the suspect. Officers located the suspect and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, however he refused to stop and fled. He continued to drive dangerously and at high speeds around the community.

As RCMP were patrolling for the suspect, they were advised by a community member the suspect had crashed the vehicle and was now on foot.

With the help of several community members, the suspect was located and arrested after a brief foot pursuit.

Errol Leask, 26, has been charged with Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Flight from Peace Officer, Resisting Arrest and Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose. He was remanded into custody.

Two knives were seized from the vehicle and the investigation is on going.

Flin Flon Firefighters with assistance  from The Pas, OCN, Thompson  and Ontario continue to fight the very large wildfire around Flin Flon that continues to affect the areas around Cranberry, Wanless, Sourdough Bay and cottage subdivisions.

Emergency Coordinator Mike Funk came by the CFAR studio and was quick to point out even though communications are up and running again they don’t want people to get complacent. "  We need to make everyone aware, we have communications up and running again but we can't become complacent. The radio has been a fantastick resource for us and we have communication back on line so we can get back on social media and continue to put information out. We want to make sure everyone understands the situation we are in that is still very serious and keep watching all our web pages, keep listening to the radio for updates and as soon as get more information we will release it as soon as possible."

Funk also went on to say that there is a lot of support being provided to fight the biggest fire in the province. "  We have the largest fire in the province going right now so we have all the resources that the Province of Manitoba has up here. It is actually quite impressive to see the setup that we have with the command centre at the airport. They heve up to date information and not a lot has changed from yesterday. They are in a position right now making their game plan as the winds have changed and we are getting some precipitation  which will hopefully help. It is a fluid  situation for everything including the highways, winds, the fire conditions so stay up to date with everything and stay tuned."

You are encouraged to reach out and call  211 if you are looking for a relative  or friend and if you need assistance and services.

Media Bulletin - Manitoba

May 14, 2024

FIRE BULLETIN #6

The Manitoba Wildfire Service, the Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC), Manitoba Emergency Management Organization (EMO) and the Manitoba Fire Service continue to respond to a significant number of active fires in the area around Flin Flon and The Pas. There is extreme fire behaviour in the area caused by drought conditions and high winds.

As of this afternoon, fire WE010 near Flin Flon is approximately 31,600 hectares (ha) and continues to impact the cottage subdivisions of Sourdough Bay, Whitefish Lake, Twin Lakes, Schist Lake North and Cranberry Portage.

The fire is approximately 1.5 kilometres (km) away from Cranberry Portage and the community has now been evacuated to The Pas. Provincial Emergency Social Services is available to residents. A reception centre is located at the Wescana Inn in The Pas to register evacuees and to arrange for accommodations.

A reception centre has been established at the Victoria Inn in Flin Flon to support evacuees and assist with accommodations for residents affected by evacuation orders from the following areas:

• Sourdough Bay Subdivision,
• Twin Lakes Cottage Subdivision,
• Whitefish Lake Cottage Subdivision,
• Schist Lake North Cottage Subdivision,
• Bakers Cottage Subdivision, and
• Bakers Narrows Provincial Park.

Approximately 550 residents have been evacuated at this time but that number may increase as conditions change.

Smoke from the wildfire is impacting communities in the area including Flin Flon. Area residents are advised to take precautions to protect against harmful smoke inhalation including limiting outdoor activity, staying indoors with windows and doors closed, setting air conditioning units in homes and vehicles to recirculate to avoid drawing smoke indoors, and drinking plenty of water.

If you have been impacted by the wildfire situation in Manitoba and require further assistance, dial 211 or toll-free 1-855-275-1197, or for text-based help, use the chat at https://mb.211.ca/get-help-now/.

Provincial Trunk Highway (PTH) 10, from Bakers Narrows to PTH 39, is open but requires a police escort. Check stops for police escorts are set up between Little Spruce Road and Northstar Road on the north side of PTH 10 and at Athapap Road on the south side of PTH 10. The Sherridon access road at the junction of PTH 10 remains closed. Up-to-date information on road conditions in the affected area can be found at www.manitoba511.ca/.

The fire has crossed a section of railway in the area and is impacting rail travel between Cranberry Portage and Pukatawagan.

Power outages have been reported in the impacted area surrounding the fire and continue to affect Cranberry Portage and Sourdough Bay.

Campgrounds in Bakers Narrows and Grass River provincial parks are closed until at least May 27 including Bakers Narrows, Gyles, Iskwasum Landing and Reed Lake. Manitoba Parks is contacting all affected reservation holders and seasonal campers. Backcountry travel along the Grass River from Cranberry Portage to Reed Lake is prohibited. Further park closures may be enacted. For updates visit www.manitobaparks.com.

Air tankers and helicopters with buckets have been working on the fire. Five additional crews from Ontario were delayed but are expected to arrive today, with another expected to arrive tomorrow.

Fire WE011 near Wanless north of The Pas is approximately 1,550 ha and crews are working to protect the hydro line between The Pas and Cranberry Portage. There has been no damage at this time. The fire is approximately two km away from PTH 10. Those travelling on PTH 10 may be impacted by poor visibility due to smoke.

There is a communication outage impacting Flin Flon, Sherridon, Paradise Lodge and Sourdough Bay between Flin Flon and Cranberry Portage. This includes P25, wireless, wireline, data, internet, and internet protocol television (IPTV). Communications remain available in Creighton, Sask. west of Flin Flon. Technicians are in the area and are working to implement a temporary solution to restore communications.

Interac and credit card services may not be in operation in the affected areas due to the communication outage. Though travel in the area is not advised, those travelling should plan accordingly.

Provincial burning permits are required for outdoor fires set within the burn permit area from April 1 to Nov. 15 annually. To check for municipal burning restrictions, visit https://gov.mb.ca/wildfire/burn_conditions.html. Burn permit holders are reminded to check weather conditions, have adequate suppression equipment and ensure proper fuel breaks are in place before burning. Never leave an outdoor fire unattended and always extinguish it before leaving and exercise caution when in or near forested areas.

For ongoing updates on wildfires and burn permits in Manitoba, follow the Manitoba government’s X (formerly known as Twitter) account at https://twitter.com/MBGovNews. Further details, updates, restrictions and other important wildfire information is available at https://gov.mb.ca/wildfire/. To report a wildfire, call 911 or the TIP line (toll-free) at 1-800-782-0076.

Manitoba Premiere Wab Kinew has touched down in Flin Flon to see what is happening with the forest fire which is affecting residents in our area first hand and commented on what he has seen.

“ We just got down from a helicopter where we were able to survey the fire situation and it is very serious. One of the things that stands out to me is the complexity of the response right now. A huge amount of gratitude and thanks to the folks from the wildfire service, office of the Fire Commissioner, Manitoba Hydro, the RCMP and the local fire departments that were out. There are so many moving parts to this thing and that is just the situation in Cranberry and Bakers Narrows.”

Kinew also went on to say that they have multiple resources they will be utilizing to fight this fire.

“  I think the response to the wildfire continues to be scaled up and so they have done a very good job setting up that command centre in Bakers Narrows. As more resources and firefighters come in, I think we are going to see firefighters coming in from Quebec and maybe some other provinces. They have set up the framework right now so as additional resources come in they will be able to grow that response in a way that is coordinated keeping people safe and helping to fight the fire as efficiently as possible. It is very impressive what the folks on the ground are organizing.”

Kinew wanted to remind residents that they can contact 211 if you are looking for a relative or friend and if you have questions and are looking for assistance.

The 2328 Royal CDN Army Cadet Corps held their annual Awards and Trophy presentations at the Flin Flon Community Hall last night.

It was a good turnout despite the evacuations and fire situation around Flin Flon.

The Award winners were: CAPT W.A Sweeny Award for General Proficiency, Senior Cadet - Master Corporal Rory Ford, CWO Fisher Trophy General Proficiency Junior Cadet Lance Corporal Alani Highfield, SGT LA. Horrocks Trophy Dress and Deportment- Master Corporal Nathaniel Perkins.

Otherawards wentto Master Corporal's Haden Fieber, Axton Parker, Evelyn Eaglestick Kaydence Wabasse and Ferguson Hill who received the Captain P.POPP CD Trophy for rifle team. The M. Beauchamp Trophy for Most Improved Cadet-Master Corporal Haden Fieber. The MJ Naylor Trophy for Dedication and Commitment went to Master Corporal Axton Parker.

Army Cadet League Of Manitoba- Best First Year Cadetwent to Master Corporal Alani Highfield.

2328 Royal CN Army Cadet Corps-Best Attendance-Rory Ford.

HIGHWAY 10 IS CLOSED AGAIN

Crews are currently working the west side of Cranberry with heavy equipment to create a fire break. The HB Hydro assessment report will be available later tonight to show the extent of the fire damage to the powergrid.

The office of the Fire Commissioner has people in Cranberry assisting with efforts from OCN Fire Departmentand the Pas Fire Department. They are expecting five fire crews from Ontario tonight to continue with containment efforts.

Cranberry is still in a state of emergency and the evacuation order remains in place. For residents in Wanless the fire is currently 2.5 km away from the community and 2 km from the highway. Water Bombers are working actively with crews on the ground and heavy equipment to contain the fire break.

Again they are advising residents to havetheir 72 hour essential family needs together and their 72 hour plan for accommodations prepared JUST IN CASE.

(Courtesty of the Province of Manitoba)

The Manitoba Wildfire Service, the Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC), Manitoba Emergency Management Organization (EMO) and the Manitoba Fire Service are currently responding to a significant number of active fires in the area around Flin Flon and The Pas. There is extreme fire behaviour in the area caused by drought conditions and high winds. 

As of this afternoon, fire WE010 near Flin Flon is approximately 31,600 hectares based on updated mapping and continues to impact the cottage subdivisions of Sourdough Bay, Whitefish Lake, Twin Lakes, Schist Lake North and Cranberry Portage.

The fire is approximately 1.5 kilometres away from Cranberry Portage and the community has now been evacuated to The Pas. Provincial Emergency Social Services is available to residents. The Rural Municipality of Kelsey has established a reception centre at the Wescana Inn in The Pas to register evacuees and to arrange for accommodations. 

A reception centre has been established at the Victoria Inn in Flin Flon to support evacuees and assist with accommodations for residents affected by evacuation orders from the following areas:

• Sourdough Bay Subdivision
• Twin Lakes Cottage Subdivision
• Whitefish Lake Cottage Subdivision
• Schist Lake North Cottage Subdivision
• Bakers Cottage Subdivision
• Bakers Narrows Provincial Park

Approximately 550 residents are affected at this time but that number may increase as conditions change.

If you are a resident or evacuee currently impacted by the wildfire situation in Manitoba and require further assistance, dial 211 or toll-free 1-855-275-1197, or for text-based help, use the chat at https://mb.211.ca/get-help-now/.

The fire crossed a section of railway in the area and is impacting rail travel between Cranberry Portage and Pukatawagan.

Power outages have been reported in the impacted area surrounding the fire. Power has been restored to Bakers Narrow and power outages continue to affect Cranberry Portage and Sourdough Bay.

Campgrounds in Bakers Narrows and Grass River provincial parks are closed until at least May 27 including Bakers Narrows, Gyles, Iskwasum Landing and Reed Lake. Manitoba Parks is contacting all affected reservation holders and seasonal campers. Backcountry travel along the Grass River from Cranberry Portage to Reed Lake is prohibited. Further park closures may be enacted. For updates visit www.manitobaparks.com.

Air tankers from Manitoba and Saskatchewan have been working on the fire. Five additional crews from Ontario are expected to arrive today and another five tomorrow.

Fire WE011 near Wanless north of The Pas is approximately 1,550 hectares and crews are working to protect the hydro line between The Pas and Cranberry Portage. There has been no damage at this time. The fire is approximately five kilometres away from Provincial Trunk Highway (PTH) 10. Those travelling on PTH 10 may be impacted by poor visibility due to smoke.

There is a communication outage impacting Flin Flon, Sherridon, Paradise Lodge and Sourdough Bay between Flin Flon and Cranberry Portage. This includes P25, wireless, wireline, data, internet, and internet protocol television (IPTV). Communications remain available in Creighton, SK west of Flin Flon. Technicians are in the area and are working to implement a temporary solution to restore communications.

Interac and credit card services are not in operation in the affected areas due to the communication outage. Though travel in the area is not advised, those travelling should plan accordingly.

Provincial burning permits are required for outdoor fires set within the burn permit area from April 1 to Nov. 15 annually. To check for municipal burning restrictions, visit: https://gov.mb.ca/wildfire/burn_conditions.html. Burn permit holders are reminded to check weather conditions, have adequate suppression equipment and ensure proper fuel breaks are in place before burning. Never leave an outdoor fire unattended and always extinguish it before leaving, and exercise caution when in or near forested areas. 

For ongoing updates on wildfires and burn permits in Manitoba, follow the Manitoba government’s X (formerly known as Twitter) account at https://twitter.com/MBGovNews. Further details, updates, restrictions and other important wildfire information is available at https://gov.mb.ca/wildfire/. To report a wildfire, call 911 or the TIP line (toll-free) at 1-800-782-0076. 

The Northern Health Region stopped by 102.9 CFAR earlier today to update us on how you can access different resources for health as we got the details from Sarah Pawlachuk.

"The Flin Flon General Hospital continues to provide medical services. Please report to the Emergency department for urgent and emergent needs. At this time the lab is open for routine blood work with limited services. The Flin Flon Clinic at the hospital is also open. Primary Health Care Centre is open for public health services and the physio department is closed for any scheduled appointments for the duration of the week. As well the Northern Patient Transportation NPTP office is currently closed. A reminder to all Northern Health Region staff to please report for your regular scheduled shifts. Stay safe, work safe and continue to listen to Arctic Radio for more updates."

The NRHA have installed Starlink and now have internet capabilities.

This is the latest fire bulletin to be released on the Flin Flon Fire situation from the Manitoba Government.

Investigation has determined that a 34-year-old male was seriously assaulted at a residence in Thompson on April 25^TH . Yesterday, police arrested Lawrence Moose, 28, from South Indian Lake. He is charged with Aggravated Assault and Assault Peace Officer, a charge he got at the time of his arrest in Thompson. He is remanded in custody.

Police have identified Kenneth Paynter, 36, from Thompson, as another suspect. He is wanted on a charge of Aggravated Assault.

Paynter is described as 5’11” tall and 256 pounds with short black hair and brown eyes. His neck is completely covered with tattoos.

If you have information about this incident or about the whereabouts of Paynter, please call Thompson RCMP at 204-677-6909, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

Do not approach the suspect. He is considered dangerous. Please contact police immediately.

A lot of resolutions were made at the latest Council meeting  as the City prepares for the budget meeting which will be taking place on Wednesday May the 22^nd 6:30 at Council Chambers.

Resolutions were read for the mill rate to be set, levying a business tax, and a special tax for the Equipment Replacement Reserve which will all be discussed at the upcoming  Budget meeting.

Second reading was given for the bylaw which will turn the park over by the Flin Flon Petting Zoo from Parks and Rec to the City and are moving forward creating a Board Of Directors.

The Flin Flon Fire Chief gave his report which included 4 incidents for March including a fire alarm at the Flin Flon Airport.  Crews responded and found a heater that caused the alarm to sound but there was no smoke or fire found.

Two fire alarms were also called in from 60 Hapnot street and 53 Callinan which were caused by burnt cooking and an alarm went off due to dust from cleaning. A motor vehicle accident was also called in from Tweedsmuir where a vehicle had hit a hydro pole.

Councillor Stee Lytwin mentioned that Moosehide Campaign Day will be taking place on Thursday May the 16^th and Hapnot and Many Faces schools both have walks planned for that day starting at 11.

The community is welcome to come out and take part.  

The City Of Flin Flon  is teaming up with the Chamber Of Commerce and Community Futures Greenstone for the Great Community Cleanup happening this Saturday .

This will be a chance to get out and clean up your neighborhood, get some fresh air and exercise and take pride in your community. City Councillor Alison Dallas Funk  tells us how you can get involved.

" It is going to be this Saturday May the 11th , you can pick up garbage bags at the Uptown Emporium, so they will be open and it will be the meeting location if you are doing the uptown area. This actually was intiated by the Main Street Committee and now Becky and her staff from Community Futures Greenstone have stepped up and made it a community initiative."

As an added bonus there will be a chance to win some  random prizes from the Prize Patrol who will be out and about between 11 and 4.

An exciting time for campers , tourists and local residents as many provincial parks are getting ready to open up for the summer. Many have already opened up down south.

Parks in Northern Manitoba are opening up on May the 17th just in time for the May long weekend,  including Bakers Narrows Provincial Park. Other popular spots include Gyles Park, Paint Lake and Wekusko Falls.

If you are looking to reserve a spot for any provincial campground you can go online at maniotobaparks.com or call 1888-482-2267.

Don’t forget you will also need a Provincial Park Vehicle Permit and you can get that online at manitobalicensing.ca.

President Dianne Russell chaired the meeting and mentioned that 80% of their clients have been personally contacted. Work continues with the Trails Association who just received a $500.00 donation from Hudbay to help pay for insurance.

They continue to work with the Main Street Revitalization Committee who are chairing a community cleanup this Saturday between 11 and 4 which will cover the entire community.

They received a donation from the Credit Union to hire two youths to clean and look after the flowers on Main street once a week. This group continues to work with the City for the beautification of Main street.

Fundraising continues for a roof over Pioneer Square with $7.000.00 being raised, with a goal of $20,000.00 in mind.

Doug Lauvstad who is the President of University College Of The North was the special guest speaker and was very optimistic on a lot of programs being offered in Flin Flon and the North.

UCN has been involved in a partnership with MPI which is an adult driving program happening all over the North. The focus is to improve road safety and allow all adults across the North to get their driver’s license. Right now there are driving instructors in Flin Flon, The Pas, Thompson, Churchill and they are looking to add more including Norway House.

The Diploma in Practical Nursing is going well with $4.5 million dollars being given to expand practical nursing in Flin Flon, Swan River and Thompson. $2 million alone for Flin Flon.

You can help clean up around Bakers Narrows this Saturday with Highway Cleanup Day.

Community member Kara Plamondon invites everyone to come out and take part.

"  I just want to let people know that this Saturday from 9 to 4 we are going to have our community cleanup happening around Bakers Narrows. We will be  between the highway at Bakers Narrows all the way to Schist Lake. The Big Island Cottage Owners will take over after that. You can either register by calling Dick at 687-5836  or call me at 687- 5061 or message us on facebook.

A free community barbecue will take place at noon and bags and vests will be provided. You can show up at Bakers Narrows to help out anytime between 9 and 4.

The Flin Flon Chamber Of Commerce held their monthly meeting at the Friendship Centre on Tuesday afternoon and the special guest speaker was Doug Lauvstad, the President of the University College Of The North.

Lauvstad commented on the different programs they will be focussing in on in both Flin Flon and across the North. 

"  I think with Flin Flon the number one  focus is getting the new diploma in practical nursing, building up and operational and students in the classrooms. Hopefully in a few years we see a number of people graduating. Throughout the North one of our areas is to responding to the critical minerals strategy both at the federal and provincila level. What that means is providing training that supports the mining companies and other resource companies and heavy industry to get the skills they need particularly in the area of industrial trades."

Lauvstad also talked about the partnership that is happening with MPI, diplomas in practical nursing and the Northern Arts program.

Information  about all the programs that UCN are offering can be seen at ucn.ca.

On May 5, 2024, RCMP charged both female youths with 2^nd Degree Murder and Attempted Murder in relation to the May 4 homicide of a 32-year-old female and the attempt murder on a 35-year-old female in the community.

The 35-year-old female remains in hospital in stable condition.

Both youth were remanded into custody.

RCMP continue to investigate.

The Town Of Creighton is preparing for their spring cleanup and have a lot of events coming up later this month for the residents to take part in as we get the details from Lindsay Shirran.

" The Creighton Spring Clean Up will take place May the 21st to the 24th. Creighton residents can place any unwanted items or garbage at their usual pickup locations,  and the Public Works Department will pick it up. They ask that any fridges or freezers have the frion removed. There is also free dumping at the Creighton Landfill between May the 15th and 28th. That will lead up to the Community Yard Sale which will be on May the 25th. If you are going to have a yard sale that week I ask you to call me or Kim at the Rec Office at 306-688-3538, and have it in by May the 16th."

Remember to place any unwanted items or garbage at your usual pickup location and the Public Works Department will pick it up and take it to the dump. You can also call the Creighton Town Office to arrange for pick-up of bigger items at 306-688-8253.

With summer around the corner, the Flin Flon Friendship Centre is into final preparations for Camp Moochikun which will begin in early July.

Events Co-ordinator Joe Anne Pelletier  says they are looking for people to apply to be Camp Co-ordinator as well as  leaders.

"  Depending on the position itself the Camp Co-ordinator will start June 17th til August the 23rd. The Camp Co-ordinator will be the one who will develop and do the implementing and evaluating for activities including directing and supervising the camp leaders. When they come in they need a class 5 drivers license, organization, leadership and supervision skills and provide a criminal record check. Any knowledge on indigenous values and beliefs would be an assett as well. We have four positions for camp leaders and they are responsible for assisting and planning the summer activities." 

The camp is free and will start on July the 8^th going til August the 22^nd. There are two different age categories including 5 to 7 and 8 to 10. Registration forms will be available to be picked up at the Friendship Centre starting June the 10^th.

After a ten year run on Flin Flon’s Main street, Freedoms Way Thrift store will be closing for good at the end of this month. The owner Dorian Kent tells us the decision is bitter sweet and knows a lot of people in the community are disappointed.

"  It has been an interesting ten and a half years running the thrift store, we have got to meet a lot of good people over the years and make some special friendships. Like a lot of places Covid really impacted us and we just couldn't keep afloat these last few years. There is a lot of sadness to see this go but also excited to see what the future brings. We tried our best to help the people of Flin Flon and the surrounding areas and it was a tough decision but it had to be made."

The last day will be on Wednesday May the 31^st and you can stop by the store Tuesday through Saturday 11 to 5. They are no longer accepting donations and there are some great deals including a small bag of items for $5..00, medium bag for $10.00 and a large bag for  $30.00.

There is a fundraiser taking place this weekend for the new  Flin Flon Aqua Centre. Escape Rooms At The Staff House is back and takes place today through Sunday.

The committee’s Karen McKinnon says this event has been successful in the past. " A couple of people on the events committe came up with the idea and they have been held before in the community but haven't been held for a long time. We had one back in March and it was a major success, so people who didn't want to get in wanted to try this again. Kelsey Anderson from the City has been busy setting this up in the Staff House,  which is a perfect spot and she is even using the basement this time. You get clues and your team has so much time to escape out of the room and it is a fun thing."

You can message Flin Flon Recreation on facebook or e-mail kandersen @flinflon.ca. The Aqua Centre Committee will also be hosting a bake sale just before the Flin Flon Arts Council’s spring concert this Sunday at St. Annes. Donations are coming in and you can still drop of baking with details on the Aqua Centre facebook page.

Last Friday , as a result of an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking within the City of Thompson, RCMP officers with the Thompson General Investigative Section along with assistance from Thompson Detachment officers and Police Dog Services executed a search warrant at a residence located on Yale Avenue.

The search of the property led to the seizure of approximately $10,000 in cash, a small quantity of cocaine, drug packaging paraphernalia and weapons.

A 16-year-old male youth was arrested on scene and later released for a court appearance scheduled for August 23, 2024, in Thompson, where he will face charges of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, Production of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Property Obtained by Crime.

Thompson RCMP continue to investigate.

The Flin Flon Guidance Nursery will be celebrating their 50^th anniversary in Flin Flon later this month and Rhonda Boyd  tells us there will be a lot going on to mark the occasion.

"  It will be a Tuesday at the nursery school, we will be having cake and coffe along with our general annual meeting. Everybody is invited to come out and check out the nursery school and have cake and coffe with us. So bring the kids and we will have some activities and balloons to help celebrate."

They will also be holding  their AGM this night as well and is open to anyone who would like to attend on Tuesday May the 21^st starting at 7pm.

The Women’s  Resource Centre is hosting a special  event in honor of Red Dress Day coming up this Friday . Hanne Buettner will be the host and explains what they will be doing.

"  Just letting you know there is a painting night happening tomorrow at the Women's Resource Centre. We have 10 seats available between 5 til 7 and we are doing it in honor of Red Dress Day on May the 5th. If you would like to come out and paint a picture with us that would be great."

If you are interested and want to sign up or are looking for more information call 204-681-3105 or go the Women’s Resource Centre facebook page.

The Flin Flon Recycling Centre held their AGM and handed out some awards Tuesday night  at Council Chambers at City Hall. Administrator Deb Odegaard lets us know who they recognized this year.

"  Well the meeting went very well , we always have a powerpoint that just reviews how everything has gone in the last year. This year we honored Kara Plamondon for her work with Mother's Day with Mother Earth as a community member. Our staff person Bev Jackson has been with us for 5 years and she does a really good job so we wanted to honor her too."

Another purpose of the meeting was to get information on how to get more people in Flin Flon and the surrounding area to start recycling more.  They are still in need for more people to join the board and if you are interested you can go to the website at flinflonrecycling.org or call 204-687-6169.