The Flin Flon Recycling Centre held their AGM Monday night at Johnny’s Social Club.

Administrator Deb Odegaard chaired the meeting and thanked her staff, the board and all their volunteers for their continued hard work.

After a few years on the decline, Odegaard did report that they did  see a slight increase in recycling this past year with a total of 428 tonnes being recycled which did not include glass.

The Curbside Pickup has gone over very well in Creighton and Denare Beach but could see better results in Flin Flon. The Recycling Centre reported that 23 % of their revenue comes from Municipal, 33 % from the Producer Responsive Organization and the rest they raise locally.

Odegaard is very positive heading into the rest of 2025 and beyond. " I think there are a lot of people that are recycling which is wonderful and we appreciate those who are. We had lower toneges the last couple of years and there is lots of good reasons for that and we just want to keep encouraging people to recycle. We have a great staff who works hard and a board that works well and I think recycling looks bright. There is definately challenges in terms of some of the funding and some of the changes that are coming to our programs. I am definately quite positive about what is happening."

They have had positive meetings with representatives from Flin Flon, Creighton and Denare Beach as they are looking for additional funding.

Bob Putko, Ron Potkonjak, Kirk Spreadborough and Paul Harrison were all re-elected for the board for a two year term.

The Recycling Centre also recognized some people with awards including The Town Of Creighton with the Community Champion Award, Rachel Roberts with the Employee Service Award and Board Service Recognition.

The Many Faces and Hapnot Grad Classes will be hosting a barbecue and yard sale this weekend. This is a fundraiser which will allow the grad classes to run their ceremonies and help out with other expenses.

Teacher Rachel Wright tells us how this event came about and the different events that will be going on. "So we started this last year as Many Faces had the idea of a community garage sale, bake sale and barbecue,  and this is our second year doing it together. Many Faces has spear headed the garage sale and barbecue event. Hapnot is contributing a bake sale table and year book sale. We have gone through the closets and found some old year books that we will be selling for anyone who has graduated from Hapnot."

The yard  sale will take place in the Stem Shop and the barbecue will happen in the Hapnot and Many Faces parking lot.  It takes place this Saturday from 10:30 am to 3pm and there will also be live music .

Northlands College in Creighton wants to give you a chance to view their campus and find out about the different programs they offer with an Open House taking place today.

Kaylee Oulette who is the Campus Clerk and Program Assistant for Tech and Trade invites everyone in the community to come down for a visit of the facility and meet the staff. " So we will have coffee and tea and light snacks for our guests. We have our University class rooms set up , so we have different programs that are being run through mootle. So you can come in and sit down at a computer,  and find out about our programs and maybe even apply for one. We have multiple programs happening through the 2025-26 academic school year with a few happening right here in Creighton."

The Open House takes place between 11 and 3 today at 120 Kings Crescent  in Creighton.

Johnny’s Social Club in Flin Flon is excited to welcome back world renowned  musician  Alan Gerber for a big show this weekend.

Alan has performed all over the world including Flin Flon three times before. One of the organizers Greg East talks about some of the famous  artists that Allen has been able to open up for through out his career. 

" Bob Dylan, BB King, Van Morrison, Janis Joplin, John Lee Hooker and Brownee Mghee so he has been around for a while. He cut his first 45 when he was 15 in 1961 and he cut his first album in 1971, a solo album. He also played with a band called Rhinoceros which was a professional musician  band that one of the recording companies had put together. The man has talent and he is coming to your town."

Tickets are $25.00 and can be picked up at the Orange Toad. The show is this Friday May the 2^nd with doors opening at 7:30 and the show at 8pm.

May is Motor Cycle Awareness Month across the country and the Flin Flon Motorcycle Association have a lot of events planned as we get the details from Paul Garret.

" On May the 24th we are going to have a draw for our bike and we are going to do a Poker Derby out to Wanless again and then back in to town. We will leave at 10 am and then we will come back and also do a toy run for the Friendship Centre to help out with  toys for Christmas."

Tickets can be picked up for the bike which is a 2025 Heritage Soft Tail Harley Davidson at the Gateway, Super K, Candy Bar and Peds Threads for $20.00 a ticket.

The draw will once again take place at the FF Motor Cycle Association’s Club House On Saturday May the 24^th at 4pm at 110 Clark Place in Creighton.

On Sunday  at approximately 11:40 a.m., Pelican Narrows RCMP received a report of a single-vehicle rollover on Highway #106.

Officers immediately responded, along with fire services and EMS.

The driver of the vehicle was declared deceased by EMS at the scene. He has been identified as a 22-year-old male from Buffalo Narrrows, SK. His family has been notified.

An adult female passenger was assessed by EMS at the scene.

Pelican Narrows RCMP continue to investigate with the assistance of a Saskatchewan RCMP collision reconstructionist.

 Liberal Party member Rebecca Chartrand is the new MP for the Churchill Keewatinook Aski Riding.

Chartrand claimed 7925 votes, followed by Niki Ashton of the NDP with 5262 in yesterday’s federal election.

Lachlan di Nardi of the Progressive Conservatives had 4444 votes and was followed by Dylan Young with the People’s Party of Canada with 368 votes.

While Mark Carney will take the helm as Prime Minister with the Liberal Party, there is no final decision just yet as to whether he has a minority or majority government.

In Northern Saskatchewan for the Desnethe Missinippi Churchill riding which includes Creighton and Denare Beach, they will also be represented by the Liberal party.

Bucky Belanger has been elected with 65.6 % of the vote share while Jim Lemaigre holding 25 % for the Conservatives  and NDP candidate Doug Racine earned 9.3 % of the vote share.

The riding was formerly held by Gary Vidal who chose not to run for re-election.

82 of the 88 polls have reported.

Community Futures Greenstone  has been holding Summer Biz Kids Day Camps for the last several years and are looking for a Summer Coordinator to look after the camps this summer.

Becky  Cianflone explains what requirements they will need to fill this job. " So we are really excited thanks to the Canada Summer Jobs Funding,  that we will be able to offer Biz Kids Camps this summer. We are looking for a great young person to help us lead that camp. They will be organizing all the activities and events and helping develop the curriculum. They will also help us to pick  all the safety measures that are required when you are dealing with a group of children. We feel this is a great summer job opportunity."

The camps will take place in July and August and will take place in Flin Flon, Cranberry and Snow Lake. If you are interested in this position you can get more information by going to the Community Futures Greenstone Facebook page.

The CBC show, Still Standing will be making their way to do a profile on the community later this summer  and the city is looking for your help to get things spruced up.

Street sweeping will begin next week to start cleaning up our roads, and City Hall is working on a graffiti removal program to support businesses in cleaning up graffiti from our downtown.

The City is also planning a community cleanup on Monday May the 12^th between 5 and 7pm at Pioneer Square where hot dogs and drinks will be provided as they pick up litter and make Flin Flon shine.

There is also going to be a gathering planned for May the 26^th.

If you can’t make it May the 12^th or 26^th you can still get involved by picking up garbage bags and gloves at City Hall to help clean up the parks, road ways and downtown when ever you have time to spare.

When you are finished you can contact the City at 1-833- 210- 6435 and they will pick up the bags for you . The city also wants to help you get your spring cleaning done and have waved the dumping fees from May the 17^th to June the 1^st at the Flin Flon Landfill.

Last Thursday , as a result of an ongoing investigation into the trafficking of drugs in Flin Flon, RCMP officers from the Manitoba North District Crime Reduction Enforcement Support Team (CREST), the Manitoba Integrated Law Enforcement Team (MILET) and the Flin Flon RCMP executed a search warrant at a home located on Centennial Crescent.

As a result of this search, officers seized approximately 112 grams of cocaine, a large amount of Canadian currency, numerous firearms and other drug-related paraphernalia.

RCMP arrested a 60-year-old male and a 54-year-old female on scene who were later released from police custody for a court appearance in August.
 

On April 17^th , in a separate ongoing investigation, RCMP then attended to an apartment located on Hill Street where another search warrant was executed.

As a result of this search, officers seized approximately 110 grams of cocaine, a large amount of Canadian currency, illicit tobacco and other drug-related paraphernalia.

RCMP arrested three people  from  the residence, two males (39, 33) and a 20-year-old female.

The 39-year-old male, Shayne Shatilla, was remanded into custody on charges of Possession of Proceeds of Crime and Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking.

The 20-year-old female was later released from police custody for a court appearance in August. The 33-year-old male was released without charge.

RCMP continue to investigate.

Canadians will head to the polls today to elect a new Prime Minister as polls will open up across the country including Northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

The polling station in Creighton is located at the Creighton Recreation and Tourism office at 216 Creighton Avenue between 8:30 am and 8pm.

The three candidates running for Desnethe Churchill River include Buckley Belanger-Liberal, Jim Lemaigre- Conservative and Doug Racine NDP.

The polling stations in Flin Flon include St Anne’s Church, North Minister United Church and City Council Chambers from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm.

The four candidates running include incumbent Nikki Ashton NDP, Rebecca Chartrand Liberal, Lachlan De Nardi Conservative and Dylan Young  People’s Party Of Canada.

Your polling station will be listed on the back of your voting card.

102.9 CFAR will have full results tomorrow.

THE TOWN COUNCIL OF CREIGHTON HAVE NOMINATED MAYOR BRUCE FIDDLER AS A DIRECTOR ON THE FEDERATION OF CANADIAN MUNICIPALITIES ASSOCIATION BOARD WHICH ADVOCATES AND LOBBIES FOR EVERY  MUNICIPALITY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

THE MAYOR HAS ATTENDED THE ASSOCIATIONS CONFERENCES A NUMBER OF TIMES IN THE PAST BUT HAS NEVER SAT ON THE BOARD. THE ASSOCIATION DOES A LOT OF WORK ACROSS THE COUNTRY BUT SPECIFICALLY ACROSS THE NORTHERN PARTS OF THE PROVINCES ADDRESSING THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING,MEDICAL SERVICES AND ALL THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES WHICH ARE CONCERNS NATIONWIDE.

THE MAYOR SAID HE IS VERY INTERESTED IN SITTING ON THE BOARD WITH THE ELECTIONS BEING HELD JUNE 2nd AT THE AGM IN OTTAWA.

COUNCIL ALSO AGREED TO DONATE $100 DOLLARS TO THE FLIN FLON LIONS CLUB TO ASSIST THE LIONS FOUNDATION OF CANADA DOG GUIDES TO SUPPORT AN ASSISTANT DOG.

THEY ALSO AGREED TO DONATE $750 DOLLARS TO THE FLIN FLON FIREWORKS COMMITTEE AS A CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS CANADA DAY CELEBRATIONS THIS SUMMER.

The Flin Flon Arts Council have a number of job opportunities for students this summer as they have received funding from numerous grants.

Crystal Woodward from the Flin Flon Arts Council gives us the details on the different jobs that are available. " So we have a lot of employment options  for the summer. We were approved for the Summer Canada Summer  jobs for two positions. One position is an Administrative assistant  that will be focussing on helping the Arts Council specifically and bouncing between the Emporium. There is the Summer Job Store Clerk which will be hanging out at the Uptown Emporium. We also have an official Store Clerk through the Uptown Emporium which will be paid through the Emporium. That will be the main storke clerk with full time hours."

Another job that you may be interested in applying for includes the Manitoba Metis Federation podcast position. If you are interested in any of these positions you can get more information by going to flinflonartscouncil.ca.

The Flin Flon Alliance Church in conjunction with Adult and Teen Challenge will be holding an revival  outreach afternoon at the Flin Flon Community Hall in May.

The Alliance Church Pastor Claude tells us it is going to be a very special day. 

" We are going to worship the Lord and have testimonies as to the goodness of the Lord and what the Lord has done for people. We will talk about the break through that people have received in life and the actual setting free from things they thought they were totally bound by. This is also for people to come as they are and receive love and acceptance with open arms with no obligations and conditions."

This event is open to everyone including any other church’s in the Flin Flon area that would like to attend. It is  taking place on Saturday May the 24^th from 2 to 6pm and will wrap up with a meal and fellowship.

For any additional information you can contact Claude at the FF Alliance Church by calling 431-346-0404.

Jim Lemaigre who is running for the Conservatives in Monday’s federal election for  the Desnethe Missinippi Region was in Northern Saskatchewan on Tuesday.

Desnethe Missinippi represents 39 different communities including Creighton and Denare Beach and Lemaigre was able to meet with many different organizations and groups to find out what issues are important to people in this riding.  " Cost of living is a significant area that people have brought up. A shortage of housing and over crowding and mental health and addictions. If we arn't healthy then it is really tough to mainitain life, so there is a lot of discussion around that. Economic  opportunity, what can we do so people can be employed and look after themselves."

Lemaigre is a member of the Clear Water Dene Nation just north of La Loche . He is also a former RCMP Constable in multiple Saskatchewan communities and served as the Saskatchewan Party representative for the 2022 by-election for the Athabaska region.

AT THE FLIN FLON SCHOOL BOARD MEETING EARLIER THIS WEEK TRUSTEE LESLIE FERNADES AND ANGELA SIMPSON HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE SOME OF THEIR HIGH LIGHTS THAT THEY TOOK AWAY FROM ATTENDING THE MANITOBA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION 61st ANNUAL CONVENTION LAST MONTH IN WINNIPEG.

BOARD CHAIR JACKIE HUCALUK ADDED THE EVENT PROVIDED A VALUABLE LEARNING

EXPERIENCE AND WAS A GREAT CHANCE TO CONNECT AND COLLABORATE WITH OTHER TRUSTEES ACROSS THE PROVINCE.

THE BOARD ALSO PASSED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2026/2027 TO 2030/2031 FIVE YEAR CAPITAL PLAN TO BE SUBMITTED TO CAPITAL PROJECT PLANNING AND DELIVERY BY THE DEADLINE OF MAY 2nd THIS YEAR.

THEY ALSO RECEIVED AN INVITATION FROM THE CANADIAN PARENTS FOR FRENCH WHO WILL BE CELEBRATING FORTY PLUS YEARS OF FRENCH IMMERSION IN FLIN FLON. THE EVENT WILL FEATURE ENTERTAINMENT FROM THE STUDENTS,ALONG WITH DRUMMER JORDAN HANSON WHO HAS STUDIED MUSIC IN TWENTY TWO COUNTRIES ACROSS THE GLOBE,REFRESHMENTS,RAFFLES AND MORE. THE CELEBRATION TAKES PLACE MAY 22nd AT THE ECOLE McISSAC SCHOOL GYMNASIUM.

At their meeting in Council Chambers on Tuesday night, Flin Flon City Council has agreed to purchase both the Whitney House and Staff House for $100.00. The City has done some minor alterations including some painting and new flooring.

The purchase of these two buildings has allowed them to host some events and will also be used to house the cast and orchestra coming in for the Annie production and some geologists who will be coming in for a study from the U of M.

Mayor George Fontaine and Deputy Mayor Alison Dallas Funk recently attended the AMM Conference in Winnipeg and said it went really well with a chance to meet with many Ministers and presenters at the Manitoba Legislature.

They are going to explore more funding for community business opportunities and a Mentorship program that will help with the transfer of knowledge. They are also looking into the Manitoba Grow grant program for additional funding for the new swimming pool.

Preparation continues for the City Budget and they are waiting for approval from the Municipal Board on the Special Service Levy and then they will announce a date.

Last Thursday, RCMP North District Traffic Services conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle located approximately 50 kilometres south of Grand Rapids on Highway 6.

An officer approached the vehicle, with two occupants, and spoke with the driver, and observed open liquor in the vehicle.

 The driver, along with the 28-year-old male passenger,  from Kinosao Sipi Cree Nation, were immediately placed under arrest .

A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of additional bottles of liquor, a sawed-off shotgun, a duffel bag containing a large amount of Canadian currency and other drug-related paraphernalia.

Brenden Ettawacappo, 30, and Braden Simpson, 28, were both remanded into custody on charges including Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm and several additional firearm-related offences.

RCMP continue to investigate.

One of the biggest traditions to officially kick off the Spring and Summer season will start tomorrow at the Creighton Sportex with the 40^th annual CFAR Trade and Leisure Show.

Station Manager Dianne Russell invites the community to come down and be part of the show. " Not everyone knows that it is CFAR who is the host and puts this event on,  and we work really hard to make this happen because it is a community event. So many local people can walk around,  and see what is going on, buy things and invest in things. So many local businesses and groups can also promote themselves. We do have out of town people as well and it adds variety and it also makes sure we can have a nice full floor. By the way, it is sold out this year."

The hours at the Creighton Sportex include tomorrow from 4 to 9pm, Friday noon to 9pm and Saturday 10am to 4pm and admission is free.

You can see a complete list of this year’s booth listings at flinflononline.com.

The federal election is now less than a week away as voters will head to the polls on Monday April the 28^th.

Rebecca Chartrand is running for the Liberal party for the Churchill Keewatinook Aski area which includes Flin Flon, The Pas and Thompson as well as 64 other communities in this region. Chartrand was in Flin Flon on Tuesday to discuss the issues that people in this area are concerned about.

" Well people are seeing an aging infrastructure, people think the North is being forgotten, and people want to see change and a new leadership. They have an MP who has been there for 17 years who hasn't really been effective. So they want to see someone who actually has a seat in power with a government that is in power."

Chartrand has a lot of experience in advocating for people in the North and is currently working with the Indigenous Strategy Alliance which is a Manitoba based company. Chartrand has also worked with the Province Poverty Task Force, Anti Racism Policy, suicide prevention as well as safety, wellness and justice prevention and intervention.

On April 13^th ,  officers from the Swan River RCMP Detachment received a report of a single-vehicle rollover that occurred on River Avenue in Bowsman.

Officers attended to the scene and located three female subjects outside the vehicle, two passengers (22,19) who were able to exit the vehicle on their own and were treated and released for minor physical injuries, and the driver, who had been ejected and was taken to hospital in critical condition.

On April 15^th  the 36-year-old female driver, from Swan River, succumbed to her injuries.

Swan River RCMP, with assistance of a Forensic Collision Reconstructionist, continue to investigate.

The Saskatchewan Urban Municipal Association  Conference took place in Saskatoon last week and a couple members of Flin Flon’s City Council attended,  including Councillor Mike Slipp and the Director of Human Resources and Finances Joy Capyk.

Councillor Slipp said they had an opportunity to meet with a lot of different people.  " I got to meet the MLA for the Creighton area, Jordan McPhail who is a great young man and knew about the regionality issues of our hospital and we are part of Saskatchewan. It was a breath of fresh air to get a chance to talk to Jordan. We went to a bunch of sessions including Intergovernmental Affairs was a good one. Scott Moe the Premier of Saskatchewan gave an address which was really interesting , and we went to a Northern Municipalities session where just the folks who are in Northern Saskatchewan attended."

Mayor George Fontaine,  Deputy Mayor Alison Dallas Funk and  the CEO Lynn Brown attended the AMM in Winnipeg last week and will compare notes with Councillor Slipp and Capyk who were in Saskatoon and find ways to  implement some different strategies for our region.

The Town of Creighton has declared May the 20^th to the 23^rd Spring Clean Up Week, with a Community Yard Sale for May the 24^th

If you would like to be part of the Community Yard Sale make sure you register with Creighton Recreation by May the 15^th.

A list and map of all the locations will be available. If you need more information you can call Lindsay or Tatum at 306-688-3538 or creightonrecreation@sasktel.net.

To assist Creighton residents with their yard cleanups there will be no dumping fees  May the 12^th to the 25^th. If you need assistance to have larger items transported to the landfill please call the town office at 306-688-8253 to make arrangements.

On April 14^TH , Thompson RCMP responded to a report of an injured male at an address located on Princeton Drive.

Officers attended and located the injured male being cared for by staff at this location.

The victim, a 35-year-old male from Thompson, was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries but later transferred to Winnipeg for further treatment.

Information obtained by officers is that the victim was jumped by two females and one male but he could not identify them. No items were reported stolen.

Thompson RCMP are asking anyone who may have information on this assault or may have surveillance footage from this area to call the Thompson RCMP at 204-677-6909, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

There is another Possession and Acquisition License Course that will be taking place later this month in Creighton.

Ryan Grey will be teaching the course and he go’s over what he will be teaching.

" It is a firearms safety course so we are going to be taking a look at all the different  components of firearms. Basic cleaning, when you purchase a firearm you still have to clean it after you use it. Hand handling of firearms and different carries and different  shooting positions. A lot of people don't understand about transportation , where firearms have to be transported whether it is in a truck, car, boat, sled or canoe, the main thing as long  as it is unloaded. From there we will take a look at storage."

It is a two day training course at the Creighton Community Hall April the 25^th and 26^th and the course fee is $175.00. You can register by contacting Ryan at 204-687-3163 or KANVASBACK5253@GMAIL.COM.

University College Of The North will offer student housing in Flin Flon starting this fall thanks to a two million dollar investment from multiple funding sources.

Jamie Grant who is the Associate Vice President of Community and Industry Solutions,  says the funding will allow them to offer many programs for students in Flin Flon and all over the North.

" We are going to be able to bring programming into Flin Flon that we have never been able to do before,  because of  having that student housing available. It has always been one of our biggest challenges and one of our biggest barriers,  is where do students stay when they are accessing training. Now having this on site, close to our training centres we will be able to bring lots of programs to Flin Flon and the North. This is very exciting for us."

The new modular student housing is being mobilized outside of the Northern Mining Academy next to the Whitney Forum. There is an active construction site  going  on right now and the intention is to be fully operational by this August and ready for students in the fall.

New Horizons held their annual general meeting in their facility Monday night.

Mary Wright will serve as tresurer with Ken Mensch as the new Vice President. Edgar Wright was acclimated as President and was happy they received some funding for additional equipment.

Wright went on to say that to join New Horizons, the cost is only $10.00 for the year, and will allow members to use the facility free of any added charges. It is not limited to just Denare Beach residents but for all of Northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

For details on how to become a member and updates on their programs you can visit the Denare Beach New Hoeizon Feacbook group.

Canada Gold Corporation is doubling the size of its drilling program taking place at the Tartan Mine near Flin Flon.

The new development will now total approximately 8,000 metres of diamond drilling. This comes after an equity investment from Toronto based McEwen Mining of 5.9 percent.

The Tartan Mine project has also been approved for a $300,000 grant from the Manitoba Mineral Development Fund; whose goal is to facilitate economic growth and employment in Northern  Manitoba.

The MMDF funding qualifies the Tartan Mine project to be eligible for tax credits for future investors. The drilling program is expected to be completed by early summer.

The Central Canada Film Group will be celebrating a coast to coast event locally. The organization’s Tom Heine gives us the details

“National Canada Film Day is a cross Canada celebration of Canadian films and, believe it or not, there are a lot of good ones out there. We are pleased to have a copy of Maria Chapdelaine, it’s a classic coming of age story...if you know Quebecois literature at all, it’s one of the classics. The photography is excellent.”

The movie Maria Chapdelaine was nominated for 5 Canadian Screen Awards. The film will be shown tomorrow as a part of National Film Day with a presentation at the Hapnot Theatre at 7:30. It is free to the public.

SIIT will be offering a Guest Services Representative program in Creighton coming up later this summer. Brody Hooper who is one of the Job Coach’s gives us the details on what will be included in the program.

“The program prepares students to enter a wide range of different hotel operation positions. Like reservation, sales, front desk, tourism, visitor information, house-keeping, custodial, night audits...they will develop all their job skills and trade readiness, so that they’ll be ready to find entry level work. And at the end of the program we’re going to be having a two week work placement for the students to go and get practical experience...”

The program is being offered July 14^th to September the 12^th and you can register up to May the 30^th by calling Brody at 306-688-1222 and get registered and set up with the Scott ticket. Admission requirements include Grade 10 or Adult 10, Valid Scott, reliable transportation and getting registered with your Job Coach.

The Flin Flon Aqua Centre Volunteer Committee has extended the date for their latest raffle which includes items donated by Flin Flon Mayor George Fontaine.

Committee member Karen Mackinnon talks about the items that will be raffled.  “...the big sled which is a varied favourite for the whole community, people love them, and a crib board, and a beautiful big trinket box, and a bird carved out of local trees which is nice. Anyways it’s on our Facebook page and the Rec page.”

ON MARCH 26th THE TOWN OF CREIGHTON HELD A PUBLIC MEETING REGARDING PETER BALLANTYNE CREE NATION'S PROPOSAL FOR A STABILIZATION CENTER AT THEIR BRODERICK FACILITY.

THE TWO MONTH PILOT PROJECT WOULD BE DESIGNED TO ASSESS AND OFFER MEMBERS TREATMENT BEFORE BEING REFERRED TO ANOTHER FACILITY FOR SPECIALIZED SERVICES.

PBCN REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT WERE CLAYTON SEWAP,TYLA SYLVESTRE,DORIS CUSTER,BERNIE HILLIER,AND DARLENE WATSON.

THE TOWN COUNCIL OF CREIGHTON PASSED A MOTION EARLIER THIS WEEK TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT TO ALLOW PBCN COUNCIL TO UTILIZE THEIR INSTITUTIONAL ZONED

BUILDING LOCATED AT 687 BERESKIN TO ACCOMODATE A STABILIZATION UNIT FOR DRUG ADDICTED CLIENTS.

THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS MUST BE MET...UTILITY CHARGES AND TAXES PAID UP TO DATE,TWO MONTHS AFTER DATE OF OPENING A CONSULTATION REVIEW WILL TAKE PLACE BETWEEN PBCN AND THE CREIGHTON TOWN COUNCIL,PBCN CANNOT CHANGE THE USE OF THE BUILDING WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM THE CREIGHTON TOWN COUNCIL,AND CLIENTS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO STAY IN CREIGHTON SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO LEAVE THE CENTER. 

MAYOR BRUCE FIDDLER SAID THIS IS A MUCH NEEDED PROGRAM WHICH IS VERY VALUABLE AND IF DONE PROPERLY HOPES IT IS SUCCESSFUL.

Flin Flon Parks and Rec are looking forward to summer time and have applied for lots of grants to bring as many jobs and services to the Flin Flon area.

Flin Flon Rec Director Cait Bailey mentions the different grants and projects they have on the go.  " Some grants that we have applied for and are waiting for confirmation on include some life saving Society grants,  so we will be able to offer a couple swimming lessons over the summer. We are also going to be offering Life Guard training.  If you have kids at home or you used to be a Life Guard , or teenagers in high school looking for something to do. Keep your eyes out because we are going to offering Life Guard training courses. We also have a grant to help us purchase an accessible bike that is going to be awesome, and be available for the public to use so people can get out and experience the trails and summer weather." 

They will also be doing an upgrade and repairs to the Duck Pond area. Flin Flon was successful in getting A From The Ground Up Grant and they will be building  a new playground for the Centennial Park area. Construction will start this summer.

You can get more information from the City Of Flin Flon as well as Parks and Recreation Facebook pages or the City Of Flin Flon website.

A couple of long time Flin Flon residents received Kings Coronation medals at a ceremony at the Manitoba Legislature on Monday. These awards are presented to recognize people who go well above the call of duty volunteering and making a difference in their communities.

Flin Flon MLA Tom Lindsay was there for the ceremony and says this year’s recipients are very deserving.  " The first recipient is Tom Davie , who is a long time labour activist who started off his career in the Smelter and worked his way up through the Union to become President. He really did a lot of things that people don't realize as  he was fighting not just for the workers he represented but to try to keep a much work in Flin Flon for people living here. The second recipient is Joe McCormick who was the voice of Flin Flon on CFAR  for 53 years. He is well known in the community and any events taking place in Flin Flon you could count on Joe being there with his recoreder to take a few comments on what was happening."

The awards were presented by the Manitoba Lieutenant Governor Anita Neville with the Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew also in attendance. The Flin Flon recipients were two of over 200 medals which were presented to people across the province.

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Printed t-shirts can be a powerful tool to bolster your brand by turning customers and supporters into walking advertisements. Each time someone wears your branded t-shirt, they increase your visibility and spread awareness of your message or logo. They offer a fun and creative way to connect with your audience while showcasing your identity in a tangible form. By designing stylish, high-quality t-shirts, you can foster loyalty and encourage more engagement with your brand. If you’d like to use printable shirts to bolster your brand, these can be great for giveaways and added incentives to bolster your marketing strategy.

Harnessing Untapped Markets for Business Growth

Exploring under-served markets can open up new revenue streams and provide a competitive edge. Utilizing AI tools for detailed market research helps pinpoint these opportunities, allowing you to tailor strategies to meet specific consumer needs. This not only boosts customer acquisition but also strengthens brand loyalty by addressing market gaps. As industry lines blur, tapping into these niches can lead to growth and sustainability.

Leveraging Reverse Phone Lookup

Using reverse phone lookup can help you improve customer relationships by providing insights into missed calls and your audience's demographics. When you return missed calls with the context of who the caller is, you create a more personalized experience, showing your attentiveness and commitment. Additionally, reverse phone lookup tools can offer valuable demographic information, helping you better understand your customers' needs, preferences, and locations. For instance, click here to get the 411 on the 514 area code. This deeper understanding enables you to tailor your communication and marketing efforts more effectively.

Turning External Innovation Into Growth

Open innovation models that leverage external ideas and technologies can significantly enhance your business growth. By seeking insights from outside your organization – such as customer feedback or expert collaborations – you can broaden your network of expertise and resources. This strategy fosters a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration, leading to groundbreaking advancements and a competitive edge. Embracing collaborative efforts and external inputs can accelerate your company’s growth in ways that internal efforts alone might not achieve.

Selecting Angel Investors for Startup Growth

Securing seed funding is a critical step for advancing your startup, and choosing the right angel investors is pivotal. These investors not only provide financial support but also offer valuable expertise and mentorship. To attract the right angel investor, convey your commitment and passion, clearly articulate the problem your startup addresses, and demonstrate customer interest. Aligning with investors who share your vision can significantly enhance your startup’s growth potential.

Leveraging Data Analytics for Strategic Marketing Growth

Data analytics is essential for crafting effective marketing strategies that drive growth. By examining customer behavior and purchasing patterns, you can identify distinct consumer segments and tailor your marketing efforts accordingly. This approach not only enhances customer satisfaction but also increases the likelihood of retention. Data-driven organizations are more likely to acquire and retain customers, as well as achieve profitability. Integrating data analytics into your marketing strategies can optimize campaigns for a higher return on investment.

Leveraging Scalable Technologies for Business Growth

As your business grows, integrating scalable technology solutions is crucial for meeting increasing customer demands. Implementing scalable technologies like cloud computing and CRM systems allows you to seamlessly adjust operations to evolving needs. For instance, a cloud-based e-commerce platform can efficiently manage spikes in website traffic during peak shopping periods, ensuring a smooth customer experience. This strategic approach boosts operational efficiency and keeps your business competitive.

In the pursuit of growth, businesses must remain agile and open to innovation. By strategically investing in technology, exploring new markets, and fostering collaborative partnerships, companies can position themselves for long-term success. The journey is complex, but with the right strategies, businesses can navigate the challenges and seize opportunities that lead to sustainable growth.

Stay connected with local news, events, and community updates at Flin Flon Online.

One of the longest running bible camps in all of Manitoba is looking forward to another summer. Simon House which is located in the beautiful Grass River Provincial Park is taking registration.

Camp Director Darrell Janzen encourages you to register the kids early.  " Registration is in full force and people have been registering and we have an early bird discount which is good til the end of April.  So if you are thinking about coming you might as well get in on that deal and we also have some other discouts along the way. We also have various forms for financial assistance for anyone who can't afford camp as we never turn kids away. There is a way to get your child here if you are interested in coming to camp this summer."

You can register by going to the website simonhouse.ca which will walk you through the process. Camps will start early in July and go til the middle of August.

The 49^th annual Northern Juried Arts Show will start later today in Flin Flon  and the Norva Centre’s Megan Dupas looks forward to show casing all the art work submitted from around Northern Manitoba.

" We are almost finished hanging all the art work in the Flin Flon Community Hall's Auditorium. The show is looking fantastick and I am really excited to get to share it with the people of Flin Flon, Creighton and Denare Beach. There is some major talent in the North and we are having the opening reception tonight at 7:30 and doors will open at 7pm.  It is free to come see the show and the awards ceremony will start at 7:30."

The show is open to the public on Friday from noon to 7pm and Saturday from 10am to 4pm at the Flin Flon Community Hall. There are also extra activities that will be taking place including a presentation for artists who can get their own website to sell their artwork online. There will also  be a free kids drawing class on Saturday afternoon for ages 9 to 17. Register at njasflinflon@gmail.com.

The Norva Centre has a special exhibit for you to come take a look at for the rest of the month of April. It is part of the Manitoba Flash Photo Festival  and will feature Flin Flon  photographer Noelle Drimmie.

Megan Dupas the Norva Manager talks about this exhibit. "  So she has a body of photographs that are all about her experience as a mother. This exhibit highlights how a mother's role extends beyond the images of joy that we so often see. These photographs serve as a testiment to the complexity of mothering, where self care often becomes an act of survival. What is really neat about this show is it is actually part of a Manitoba slas festival."

There will be an opening reception at the Norva Centre this Friday starting at 7pm.

After almost a month,  the Hapnot Theatre is back in business this Friday as they will be bringing back a popular movie from the 80’s.

We get the details from the film group’s Colin Davis.  "  If you think back to when you were in high school , was there ever a time you thought the school bully was picking exclusively on you. Well then you will want to come to the Hapnot Theatre this Friday to see My Body Guard. It is about a  defenseless teenager who  asks the one guy that everyone is scared of to be his personal  body guard. This is a really fun film that was filmed in 1980,  so parts of it are going to come across as well dated, yes we used to wear clothes like that. The story is still relatable today."

Doors will open at 7pm and the show starts at 7:30. Snacks and drinks will be available at the door and the show is free.

Elections Canada is looking for personnel to work in the Federal election. Marie France Kenney, regional media advisor  -lets us know what kind of positions are available.

" We are looking for poll workers to work for Easter Long Weekend for advance pools and form election day on the 28^th of April. These are paying jobs; some people think that they are  volunteer but they are paying jobs. And we need registration officer’s central poll supervisors; so there are different positions people can apply for and they will be working in their own electoral district."

She also mentioned being bilingual would be an asset. To apply visit elections.ca and click on the jobs tab.

Late last week NDP candidate Niki Ashton reacted to the class action lawsuit over failures in the First Nations child welfare system.

Three First Nations including Black River First Nation, Pimicikamak Cree Nation and Misipawistik Cree Nation  are having their day in court and Niki Ashton says it is very important to show these First Nations our support. 

" For me it is very important for these communities to be supported in seeking this justice. We know that there is a history of Indigenous children being taken advantage of, neglected and even abused in residential schools and day schools. I think it is so important that these First Nations are bringing forth the need to seek justice."

Ashton and the NDP are preparing for the Federal Election on April the 28^th and will be visiting all the communities in their constituency leading up to the election including Flin Flon.

University College Of The North is offering both Basic  First Aid and Intermediate First Aid  at the Northern Manitoba Mining Academy this Wednesday and Thursday.

Basic First Aid Training is a one day course taught using face to face delivery of the ST John Ambulance Curriculum. The primary focus is CPR Level C and AED Defibrillator.

Intermediate First Aid  is a two day course taught using face to face delivery of ST John Ambulance Curriculum including CPR Level C, AED with more thorough coverage of first aid situations.

The instructor is Kari Lentowicz and you can register by contacting the Northern Manitoba Mining Academy at 204-687-7038 or nmma@ucn.ca,

The Flin Flon Toastmasters and Flin Flon Public Library will be co hosting their annual Poetry Night this Friday night which will be done by Zoom.

The Toastmaster’s Harry Hobbes has more: " Flin Flon has been really good supporting Poetry Night and honoring National Poetry Month,  as we have been doing this event for 25 years now. We did have a pause during Covid and it is a great evening for people to enjoy poetry. We have moved to the Zoom format since Covid and we are happy about that as we have people coming to Flin Flon for this virtually. We have people from all over Canada, the United States and as far away as Malaysia to read and share fellowship with the enjoyment of poetry."

Lots of guest readers will be represented here in Flin Flon including City Councillors, members of the Rotary Club, Greenstone and the Arts Council with about 25 in total.

It starts Friday night at 7pm and you can contact Harry at 204-687-6647 and he will send you the link.

We are now just 3 weeks away from the federal election which could go down as one of the most important in this country’s history.

One riding to watch will be the Desnethe- Missinippi-Churchill River Constituency which covers Creighton and Denare Beach.

The candidates that are running for MP in the up coming election include Jim Lemaigre for the Conservatives, Buckey Belanger for the Liberals, Doug Racine for the NDP and Jackie Hanson for the Green Party of Canada. Incumbent Conservative MP Gary Vidal, who has been in office since 2019, is not running for re-election because of electoral boundary changes.

The new electoral boundary for Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River now cuts off Gary Vidal’s hometown of Meadow Lake, as well as other Conservative strongholds such as Goodsoil, Loon Lake and Pierceland. In addition, Belanger and Lemaigre are both former MLAs for Athabasca for the NDP and Saskatchewan Party, respectively.

Advance voting is taking place in Denare Beach and will take place at the Denareplex in Laronge ,  and the hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 9pm. Saturday 9 to 6pm and Sunday noon to 4pm.

On April 2^nd , Thompson RCMP responded to a report of a stabbing outside a business establishment located on Mystery Lake Road .

Officers arrived and located a 49-year-old male, from Pukatawagan, with life-threatening injuries. He was transported to hospital in critical condition and later life-flighted to Winnipeg where he remains in hospital in stable condition.

Two suspects were identified by police and arrested a short time later.

18-year-old Wilfred Spence, of Thompson, was charged with Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Weapon for Dangerous Purpose and Carrying a Concealed Weapon. He was remanded into custody.

A 15-year-old male  from Thompson  was later released and has agreed to appear in court.

Thompson RCMP continue to investigate.

Teen and Adult Challenge in Flin Flon continue to do community outreach from their community office at 78 Main street.

They are currently running a support group for people that are battling with addictions and the Centre’s Ben Luc explains that they are there to help.  

" So on Tuesday evenings at 7pm at 78 Main street  at our community office we have just had our 5th week of the Breaking Free group. This is for people who are working their way through finding sobriety and trying to find a way to break through any type of an addiction. It has been awesome,  and we want everyone to know that  at  any time during the 7 week course they are welcome to come out, and when it is over we will fire it right back up  again."

Teen Challenge continue to offer out patient programs for both long term and short term and will help you fill out an application to get the help you need.

Stop by their office for more information at 78 Main street noon to 6 Monday though Friday.

World Book Day will be celebrated around the world on Wednesday April the 23^rd, and there will be a special event taking place at the Flin Flon Public Library.

Library Administrator Lisa  Slugoski shares the details. " The Library is going to be hosting local authors Brian Humphreys, Myrna Guymer and Danita Stallard. They will join us to talk about their books and answer any questions the public has about writing and their books. The books will be available to be purchased at the event."

The event will kick off at 7 and seats are limited,  so please let the library know if you plan on attending  by  RSVP at FFPL@SHAW.CA.

We are headed to one of the most anticipated and important federal elections in the history of our country, when Canadians will head to the polls April the 28^th.

The candidates have been determined for our riding of Churchill Keewatinook Aski.

They include Incumbent Niki Ashton for the NDP, Rebecca Chartrand Liberal, Lachlan Denardi Conservative and Dylan Young the  People’s Party Of Canada.

Niki Ashton won her fourth term as MP for the riding in 2021, winning 42.6 per cent of the vote. Ashton has represented the riding since 2008.

The riding includes all of Northern Manitoba, including Churchill, Thompson, Flin Flon, The Pas, and multiple First Nations.

Advance polling stations are open til  April the 26^th and the advanced polling station in Flin Flon is located at 125 Main street and is open Monday to Friday 9am to 9pm, Saturday 9am to 6pm and Sunday 9am to 4pm.

NDP Candidate for Churchill- Keewatinook Aski, Nikki Ashton was in Winnipeg with NDP leader Jagmeet Singh as the NDP are preparing for what could be one of the most important federal elections in this country’s history.

Ashton commented about some of the issues that the NDP will be addressing for our region.  " Well this is a important election as we have to stand up for Canada and stand up for our region. I will say that I am starting to hear from people in our region in the need to stand strong for our North. We know that Donald Trump with his tariffs is trying to squeeze us economically , but he also wants to access resources in our country. This could have an impact on our region and a lot of people want to see us take a strong  stand against Donald Trump."

Ashton commented that they will be very busy on the campaign trail before the election on  April the 28^th and will be doing more door to door canvassing in Flin Flon , and visiting all the communities in the constituency.

For any additional information or questions you can go to the website nikkiashton.ndp.ca.

Mayor George Fontaine kicked off Tuesday’s City Council Meeting reading a letter that the City had received from the Provinces Outcomes and Strategic Policy Division .

The letter indicated that the grant application they had applied for was rejected at this time and invited the City Of Flin Flon to apply for additional funding in the future. City Councillor’s Alison Dallas Funk, Judy Eagle, Chief Administrative Officer Lynn Brown and Mayor George Fontaine will be attending the AMM Spring  Conference in Winnipeg April the 13^th,14^th and 15^th and will meet with different Ministers to get more clarification on why they were rejected.

The City does have $900,000.00 budgeted for roads and this grant was going to add to that. Work has been confirmed for Sipple Hill and Third Avenue and other residential roads.

Lynn Brown commented about the Special Service Levy meeting they held recently and rates will only go up 1.5 % per year and now they will fill out an application for approval with the province that will include comments and concerns from the residents in attendance. They should hear back in about 3 to 4 weeks.

The City expects to hold their City Budget Meeting mid to late May and expect the budget to be set at about $13.4 million. An official announcement is expected soon.

The Norva Centre has youth events on for Spring Break. Happening today is an opportunity to create a personal piece of art to take with you or share with others.

Local artist Danita Stallard let's us know what's planned.  " Basically  the whole idea is making a Pinback Button Badge to wear your own art on your own clothes or backpack. It is somethbg extra special to have your own art and wear it. We are going to get together and everyone will get to make 10 special buttons and I will be bringing some of my own button art so we can swap at the end of the hour."

There are two sessions today, one for ages 8 to 12 from 1 to 2 pm and 13 to 17 from 2:30 to 3:30. Cost is $20.00 and you can register by calling 687-4237.

You will get one more chance to listen to some great Canadian music in an intimate setting with the final installment of the Home Routes Series in Flin Flon on Monday April the 7^th.

It will take place at the Spencer’s home at 19 Hemlock Drive. Tim Spencer tells us who will be performing. " It is two musicians coming to visit us , one from Victoria BC and the other one from Halifax. Two young ladies including Olivia Barrett who is a very good Celtic fiddle player from Victoria,  and Heather Dibling who is a Celtic harp player from Halifax. It is interesting to have both these musicians coming to Flin Flon from both ends of the country."

Doors will open at 7 and the music at 7:30 and there are only 30 seats available. You can send an e-transfer or pay at the door but let them know you are planning to attend by e-mailing timelly1@gmail.com.

The City  Of Flin Flon has announced that they are ready to start rebuilding Camp Whitney after that devastating fire last summer.

Mayor George Fontaine lets us know where everything is at. " The insurance people had ok'd the cleanup of the site, and the last I had heard was that they had actually gone out and cleaned up the site. Big Ice, the Rossingtons had made a road across and they went out with their machines and cleaned everything up. So my understanding is that now we are just waiting for finalization of te plans before we can start construction."

Fontaine also mentioned that construction should start this summer and they hope to be up and operating the following  summer. You can check out the City Of Flin Flon website and facebook page for more updates.

There’s just over a week left to submit your application to perform at one of Canada’s most respected showcase events. Manitoba Showcase brings together regional and national arts presenters who are actively booking artists for tours across Manitoba and beyond.

Spots are filling quickly, and this could be your last opportunity to be considered for the 2025 lineup.

The final application deadline is Monday April the 7^th and you can apply and get more information by going to https://iwanttoshowcase.ca/manitoba-showcase-2025/

The Imagine Northern Team has returned after a visit with the Manitoba Lieutenant Governor Anita Neville,  where 8 different communities in the North were able to talk about the Arts programs in their different communities.

Crystal Woodward was there to represent Flin Flon and tells us that a lot of progress was made for these northern communities.

 “The main focus of the lieutenant dinner was to identify all the work that has been going in towards the Imagine Northern. So we’ve got, you know, around 8 champions from all of the locations in the North. And actually, like every one of us were able to make it. And that was really awesome because we got to talk to each other about our goals and our future and what lies ahead of us and make our connections. And then we had introductions from our new program lead and coordinator from Imagine Northern, which is Fiona and Roy.”

Woodward also said they are moving forward on all the specific locations to get funding so they can continue to make connections and showcase all the Art’s Programs right across the North including Flin Flon.