AT THEIR MEETING EARLIER THIS WEEK THE TOWN COUNCIL OF CREIGHTON REPORTED RECEIVING A REQUEST FROM THE FLIN FLON JR. BOMBERS TOWARDS THEIR HOCKEY NIGHT IN THE NORTH EVENT WHICH WILL BE FREE FOR THE PUBLIC TO ATTEND.COUNCIL AGREED TO SUPPORT THE EVENT WITH A DONATION OF $1000 DOLLARS.

A MOTION WAS PASSED TO ADVISE THE FLIN FLON AND DISTRICT ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL THAT THE TOWN INCREASED THE SUBSIDY 15% FOR 2025, AND THE SUBSIDY WILL REMAIN THE SAME FOR THE RECYCLING SERVICE AGREEMENT FOR 2026.

COUNCIL APPROVED THE REQUEST FROM THE CREIGHTON GRAD COMMITTEE TO START PLANNING FUNDRAISING FOR A 25ft MOTORIZED SCREEN AND LONG DISTANCE PROJECTOR FOR THE CREIGHTON SPORTEX.

COUNCIL AGREED TO OFFER IN KIND SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY FUTURES TO ACCOMMODATE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP THEY HOPE TO BRING IN THIS SUMMER.

It is a busy weekend in Northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan with the Bust the Winter Blues and Cranberry Winterfest both starting today.

Among the highlights will be a ton of local vendors setting up booths for home business markets in both communities as we get the details from Barb Bragg.

“So, the cool thing about this is, all of your favourite vendors and even some new ones are going to be at one show or the other. And when I checked the weather it’s going to be beautiful on Saturday, really sunny, perfect for a drive. So, we think you can fit them all in. And it would be great to see that kind of support for both the market in Flin Flon as well as the market in Cranberry.”

The Makers Market in Cranberry will take place at the Cranberry Legion between 11am and 3pm tomorrow and the Bust the Winter Blues Market will take place at St. Ann’s Hall from 10am to 4pm.

Bust the Winter Blues will officially get underway later today with a lot of great events all over Flin Flon and Creighton for people of all ages.

Creighton Rec Director Lindsay Shirran is hoping to see a lot of people come out this weekend.

“Tonight we will have a Family Fun Skate at the Flin Flon Whitney, Forum from 6 to 8, admission is free. We’ll have a beginner yoga at the Creighton Sportex with Christy Janvier, from 7 to 7:45, also free. The Kinette Club will be running their trivia night. And the Trails Group will be running a free Glow Snow Shoe event at Phantom Lake, you can bring your own snow shoes or reach out to them and they can provide snow shoes for free as well.”

Some of the other events to look forward to this weekend include a Historical Tour of the Whitney Forum with Ken Pawlachuk, Fireworks, Aloha Family Dance, Border Explorers Poker Derby and lots of events at the Snow Lodge at the Rotary Wheel.

A complete list of all the events can be viewed on the Flin Flon and Town of Creighton Facebook pages.

Collaboration between multiple Saskatchewan RCMP detachments leads to the location and arrest of a wanted male and a female after an assault and vehicle robbery with a firearm in Jan Lake, SK.

On February 15^th, Pelican Narrows RCMP received a report of an assault and vehicle robbery with a firearm in Jan Lake, SK. It was reported to police that two individuals in their mid-20s, a male and a female, assaulted the occupant of a white Dodge Ram  and stole the truck.

Police officers from several RCMP detachments responded immediately. Pelican Narrows RCMP, Creighton RCMP and Deschambeault Lake RCMP searched for the white Dodge Ram truck. The truck was not located. The victim was located by Pelican Narrows RCMP and determined to have non-life-threatening injuries.

On February 16^th,  while responding to a report of a traffic collision on Highway 165, La Ronge RCMP officers located the male suspect and the stolen white Dodge Ram truck. La Ronge RCMP arrested the suspect, a 26-year-old male who was also wanted on warrant by Creighton RCMP for breach of probation since February 9^th.

As a result of continued police investigation, 26-year-old Keith Mccallum from Prince Albert, SK, has been charged with multiple offenses including one count of robbery and one count of assault with a weapon.

26-year-old- Kanyssa Merasty from Deschambault Lake, SK, has been charged with multiple offenses including one count of robbery and one count of assault with a weapon.

Keith Mccallum is scheduled to appear in Prince Albert Provincial Court today.

Kanyssa Merasty is scheduled to appear in Pelican Narrows Provincial Court on March 3^rd.

Bust the Winter Blues will start tomorrow and one of the first events scheduled is the Kin Trivia Night at the Flin Flon Community Hall.

Kin President Holly Babcock tells us that ticket sales are going well. "Our ticket sales are going well, we still have some available at the Gateway and Orange Toad and will be available til noon on Friday. We have the same schedule of events for the evening like we normally do. Doors will open at 6:30pm and trivia itself will start at 7:30 and we will go through til about 10:30pm. We will do the door prizes and elimination draws throughout."

There is still time to put your trivia teams together with a maximum of 6 people per team. Your host is Jason Kuras from the Flin Flon Fire Department.

Tickets are $25.00 and proceeds from the event go towards Kin projects including bursaries, community projects and to any people or groups in need.

AT THEIR MEETING THIS PAST TUESDAY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES PASSED A MOTION TO APPROVE A PROMISSORY NOTE VALUED AT $33,300 DOLLARS ISSUED FOR THE FINAL PAYMENT OF THE 2020 RUTH BETTS ELEVATOR PROJECT AND THE 2020 HAPNOT STRUCTURAL PROJECT.

SUPERINTENDENT TAMMY BALLANTYNE REPORTED THAT AS PART OF THE DIVISIONS SAFETY PLANS EACH SCHOOL IS NOW EQUIPPED WITH A SCHOOL BUZZER AND CAMERA AT ONE DOOR. STUDENTS WHO ARRIVE LATE AND GUESTS WILL BE DIRECTED TO GO TO THE DOOR WITH THE BUZZER FOR ENTRY.

BOARD CHAIR LESLIE FERNANDES SHARED SOME INFORMATION REGARDING SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS AS BOARD ELECTIONS ARE TAKING PLACE THIS FALL AND ARE HELD EVERY FOUR YEARS. SHE STATED THAT SHE WANTS PEOPLE TO REALIZE THAT BECOMING A TRUSTEE ISN'T UNATTAINABLE AND THAT ANYONE CAN BECOME A TRUSTEE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT SCHOOL TRUSTEESHIP YOU ARE WELCOME TO REACH OUT TO THE DIVISION AT 204-681-3413.

Sandy Bay RCMP have   arrested a male wanted on multiple warrants .

From February 16^TH  to 21^st , Sandy Bay RCMP received three reports – two of thefts and one of a robbery – at the same business, as well as one break-in at a community facility.

As a result of investigation into these incidents, 25-year-old Edwin Ballantyne from Sandy Bay was charged with multiple offenses including  one count of robbery with a weapon and three counts of theft under $5,000.00,

Multiple warrants for Edwin Ballantyne’s arrest were issued.

On February 23, investigation determined Edwin Ballantyne was in a residence in Sandy Bay. Officers located him hiding in the residence and arrested him without incident.

He was also arrested on a number of arrest warrants, including for assault and failing to comply with probation, related to incidents reported to Sandy Bay RCMP in 2025 and has been remanded into custody.

Another opportunity is coming to enjoy live music at your doorstep with the latest installment of the Home Routes Series.

Barb Bragg lets us know who the features artists are going to be this time. " We have a duo coming up and the main performer is Amy Blanding who is from BC.It sounds like she is going to have a very interesting show. She has a lot of strength in her voice that she is going to put out there, and she plays guitar. We are looking forward to what she brings to the table there are a lot of good reviews out there. She is bringing with her Tori Barum who is a backup with her,  and they have been out doing performances for about ten days now."

The first performance will take place in Cranberry on Saturday March the 7^th at the Cranberry Legion,  then Sunday March the 8^th in Flin Flon at the Spencer’s home at 19 Hemlock Drive starting at 7:30pm

To pick up tickets for the Cranberry Show you can e-mail cphomeroutes@gmail.com or call 204-680-6003, in Flin Flon timelly1@gmail.com or call 431-746-4880.

The Northern Health Region will be holding a Healthy Together Now Conference in The Pas on Wednesday March the 11^th at the Kikiwak Inn between 9:30 am and 3:30pm.

Christa McIntire talks about the main objective of the Conference. " We are really excited about this event and it is open to any people and communties in the Northern Health Region. We are hosting this event because we really want to promote the Healthy Together Now Grant. It is a grant that is available to communities to do health  promotions, programs and events in their communities. We want to have an opportunity to tell them about this grant, we want to show them some success stories. We also hope that they will consider applying for a grant after they leave the conference."

The keynote speaker is going to be Daniel Hidalgo who will be discussing building community through lived experiences. Daniel will describe his  journey from a high  risk youth to passionate community leader of a non profit organization and talk about the principles that helped guide him.

It is free to attend and lunch will be provided. Registration deadline is Monday March the 2^nd and you can reach out to Christa at 204-681-3145 or e-mail cmcintyre2@nrha.ca

From February 13^th  to February 15^th,  Saskatchewan RCMP Traffic Services conducted the second phase of their traffic safety initiative in and around the La Ronge RCMP area.

Saskatchewan RCMP Traffic Services police officers from around the province gathered in Grandmother’s Bay to remove impaired drivers from the road and remind other drivers of safe driving behaviours.

They conducted patrols on the way to and from the area. They organized two check stops on Highway 102: one south of Missinipe near Walker Creek, and one south of the Highway 915 junction to Stanley Mission.

During the three days, police officers stopped a total of 334 vehicles and tested 334 drivers for impairment.

As a result of these checks, police officers issued 144 tickets (the majority of which were for speeding) and 307 warnings. They suspended two driver’s licences for alcohol consumption, four driver’s licences for drug consumption, and one driver’s licence for driving over 50 km/h above the speed limit.

Staff Sergeant Jason Sauve, with Southwest Saskatchewan RCMP Traffic Services, helped organize and operate the check stops.

We are a little more than a week away from the Manitoba Theatre Centre’s production of Hockey Mom and Hockey Dad.

Crystal Woodward on behalf of the Flin Flon Arts Council tells us it is a story of two single parents  who bring their kids to the rink to play hockey and end up meeting each other which  ends up turning into a romantic love tale.

Woodward also mentioned they still need some volunteers to help out. " We need some support with set up and take down. So this is paid help, you will receive an honorarium and this will take place between 1:30 pm and 11:30 pm. It is pretty late and a lot of work, but we could deinately use some support if you could meet us at the Community Hall for that."

The show takes place on Thursday March the 5^th   at 7:30pm  and if you could help with the set up and take down, reach out to Crystal at 204-687-5974 or e-mail flinflonartscouncil@gmail.com. Tickets for the show are $40.00 for adults and $25.00 for youth and can be picked up by going to the Flin Flon Arts Council website, or in person at the Uptown Emporium or at the door.

Sad news out of the Village Of Denare Beach as long time Mayor Carl Lentowicz has passed away.

Carl passed away this past Sunday February the 22^nd with family by his side.

Carl leaves behind  a long legacy as he has been the Mayor of Denare Beach since 1997, the past 29 years and prior to that spent three years on Denare Beach Council. Before entering politics Lentowicz was an RCMP Officer and Sergeant for 32 years.

Carl was also well respected across the Province of Saskatchewan and was presented a King Charles the Third Coronation medal a few years back for all he has done for Denare Beach and Northern Saskatchewan.

Lentowicz continued to battle and advocate for all the Denare Beach residents after the horrific wildfire this past summer right til the end.

A tentative funeral is planned for this Saturday at the Denareplex.

On February 17th, Flin Flon RCMP responded to an address on Main Street  for a report of a possible assault.

Information was then provided to police that a 57-year-old male, from Flin Flon, had arrived at this location with non-life-threatening injuries.

The investigation determined that the male was awakened earlier by two of his roommates who began to assault him and rob him of his property.

He was then forced from this residence by the two roommates and taken to a home on Church Street where a third suspect became involved. The victim was assaulted at both locations.

The victim was able to eventually leave the residence on Church Street and  contact police, before  he was taken to hospital for treatment.

Officers then went to the victim’s residence where the initial assault and robbery took place. As the officers entered the home, the three suspects were observed inside, along with three other females, and were arrested without incident.

RCMP have charged Gary Gaudet, 56, of Nipawin, SK, Keith Saam, 45, and Darren Smith, 34, both of Flin Flon, with Kidnapping, Robbery, Uttering threats and Assault. All three accused were remanded into custody.

Flin Flon RCMP continue to investigate.

Tomorrow  over 30  men from the Manitoba Knights of Columbus  will gather at Sleep In Heavenly Peace in Winnipeg to begin the assembly of 22 beds to be delivered to Pukatawagan over a two day span.

The ten men will travel to the Pas for one night then will make their way on challenging winter roads to arrive in Pukatawagan for this Thursday February the 26^th.

Once they arrive they will meet with the Chief and Elders of the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation and other local partners to distribute the goods.

As many will recall, the community experienced a very difficult 2025 where over 2,000 residents were forced from their homes due to the wildfire evacuations.

The delivery will also include coats and wheelchairs and they are encouraging anyone else who would like to make the journey with them to hop on board and come along for the experience.

There is going to be another opportunity to learn more about handling a firearm with regards to safety and storage.

Ryan Grey will once again be holding a course and he provides the details on what will be taught. " The courses are held at the Creighton Community Hall and it will be a Friday and Saturday course . It will start at about 5pm on Friday going til 9:30 pm and Saturday we will go from 8am to about 4:30 pm. The course entails the safety practises that people should be aware of and firearm and ammunition storage in our homes as well."

The dates are March the 6^th and 7^th and there are ten spots available with the cost of $175.00. You can register by contacting Ryan at 204-687-3163 or kanvasback5253@gmail.com.

Pelican Narrows RCMP is asking the public to report sightings and information about the whereabouts of 28-year-old Solomon Custer.

On February 17^th,  Pelican Narrows RCMP executed an arrest warrant at a residence in Pelican Narrows and arrested Solomon Custer

 He was wanted on warrant by Pelican Narrows RCMP for charges including breach of court ordered conditions, assault, and robbery.

While Solomon Custer was being escorted to the police vehicle, he ran away from the officer. 

Pelican Narrows RCMP have been searching for him and checking places he is known to frequent and following up on information received.

Officers continue searching for him and ask the public to report all sightings and information on his whereabouts.

Solomon Custer is described as approximately 5’ 11” and 155 lbs. He has brown eyes and black hair. He has teardrop and cross tattoos on his face and a design across his neck. He was last seen in dark coloured shirt and joggers.

If you see Solomon Custer, do not approach him. Report all sightings and information to your local police at 310-RCMP. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.

If you are looking for a fun way to kick off your weekend tonight with the family,  you might want to stop by the Hapnot Theatre for a movie based on an award winning novel.

The Central Canada Film Group will be hosting the show and Colin Davis is excited about this week’s movie from the early 80’s. " What would happen if someone from the CIA were to tell their superiors that they are going to write a tell all book about how secret organizations go about doing things? You can probably imagine. Well that's what Friday's movie is all about. Walter Matthau stars in Hopscotch about a CIA agent who threatens to expose everything not only about the CIA, but the FBI and KGB. This is a fun film from 1980 that fits well with our Films You May Have Missed series. So, if you are free this Friday, this movie will be to."

There will be a fun pre-show for anyone who shows up early. Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 7:30pm with snacks and drinks available at the door. Don’t forget the show is free.

Bust The Winter Blues will kick off next weekend, February the 27^th to March 1st with lots of family events all over Flin Flon and Creighton.

The Flin Flon Friendship Centre will be holding a couple of events including hosting Cultural Events at the Sportex on Saturday the 28^th.

Brianne Roberts provides the details. " We will have arm and leg wrestling, flour portage races, a sled pole race where we put logs on a sleigh and then we race with those sleighs. Another one is trap setting races and I picked up number two traps for that and we will also have a log sign race." 

There will be candy door prizes and it takes place between 1:30 to 4pm and the Friendship Centre will also participate in the Snow Lodge Tours on Sunday. Registration forms will be at the Sportex before the games on Saturday and there are three different age categories including 12 and under, 13 to 17 and 18 and up.

The opening of the new swimming pool was the big topic of discussion in the most recent City Council meeting.

City Council gathered at Council Chambers and the construction of the new swimming pool  is almost complete and is expected to be finished by the end of March.

Final costs will be around 24 million dollars with the community only having to pay around 7.4 million, with a 20 year debenture The rest of the costs were covered by grants, fundraising, sponsorship and donations. A big chunk of 2.4 million came from the Manitoba Grow Grant.

The City has extended the contract with IT Support Services who will continue to maintain and look after the City’s computer systems for the next three years. The City has also approved Rec Director Cait Bailey to attend the Recreation Manitoba Conference in Winnipeg this Spring.

Residents who live in Flin Flon Saskatchewan who have not received their tax benefit letter explaining their benefits are encouraged to contact the City by the end of March. You can stop by City Hall in person or you can also phone them at 833-210-6435.

Unfortunately due to bad weather down south, Provincial Finance Minister Adrian Sala will not be able to attend the Town Hall meeting tonight and the meeting has been canceled.

The entire community is welcome to come out and ask questions and find out more about the Provincial Budget.

The Jimmy Custer Memorial Dog Sled Races took place in conjunction with the 47^th annual Denare Beach Winter Festival this past weekend.

The weather was perfect and there was an excellent turn out with lots of people that came out to cheer on all the different dog teams.

There were a total of 33 entries between the three classes.

Congratulations to Carl Knudsen of Porcupine Plain who had the fastest time both days in the Main Event- Ten Dog and took home a total of $2,000.00 in prize money.

Brody Sinclair of MacDowall took the top prize in the Six Dog Race and won $1000.00. The youngest racer was Issac Connor who is only 11 and he won the Four Dog Race and  $400.00.

The organizers want to thank all the sponsors, volunteers and spectators for their wonderful support and lok forward to the return of the event in 2027.

The Northern Health Region will be hosting a 6 week program for anyone who is dealing with a chronic health condition like Diabetes, Arthritis, Blood Pressure, Cancer, Depression, Anxiety, Stroke or any type of on going health issue.

The program is called Get Better Together and Christa McIntire explains what topics will be covered. " So during the sessions we talk about a lot of topics. I will share a few of them including Physical activity, managing pain and fatigue, healty eating, better breathing and muscle relaxation, medication use, communication and problem solving, action planning and goal setting and we talk about working with our health care team."

This program is free and will start at the Primary Health Care Centre later this month. To register or for more information contact Christa at 204-681-3145. 

Bailey Homes will be in Denare Beach tonight at the Denareplex to hold an open discussion on  any topics you would like to dive into about the Wildfires this past summer between 7 and 9pm.

On Thursday,  Bailey Homes will be available between 9 and 9 in one hour blocks to privately go in depth about your insurance and building needs. If you can’t make the meeting on Wednesday but would like to sign up for a time on Thursday you can visit baileydashhomes.ca.

They know dealing with insurance can be overwhelming and that’s why they are coming in person to help you deal with your insurance needs.

 The City Of Flin Flon would like to remind you to use caution and show courtesy when snowplows and sand trucks are operating on city streets.

If you are meeting a sand truck at an intersection, please give it the right of way, as these trucks cannot come to a complete stop when they are working: they need to maintain forward movement for certain systems to function properly.

If you are meeting a sand truck on the road head-on, please give them ample space, or pull over briefly to allow them to pass. Snowplows and sand trucks carry heavy loads as they are actively clearing snow and ice, which makes sudden stops or quick maneuvers difficult and dangerous.

Giving crews the space they need helps ensure roads are cleared safely and efficiently.

The City of Flin Flon’s Public Works Team appreciate your cooperation and patience throughout the winter season.

The Cranberry Portage Winter Festival will kick off it’s first event this weekend with the Family Fishing Derby this Saturday February the 21^st, starting at 10am. The rest of the events will take place the following weekend starting on the 27^th.

One of the organizers Barb Bragg is excited about some of the new events which will be taking place this year. " One of our new events this year is going to be a social which is happening at the Curling rink on the Saturday night, the 28th. It is a Flight Night so Calm Air has sponsored a thousand dollar raffle prize to any where they fly. We also have Gordie Monroe and Ryan Smirch who are going to be performing live. It is a night of Kraft beer, Domestic Beer and Wine. This is also the second year we are going to be holding the Makers Market which is a home made, home created event where it is like the Artisan Markets in the Summer time. It is a little bit smaller and curated and it is in the Legion."

There is no entry fee for the Family Fishing Derby and there will be a chance to win a lot of great prizes with hot dogs, hot chocolate and Bombardier rides.

You can see the complete list of all the events this year at cranberryportagewinterfest.com.

On Friday, Manitoba NDP Caucus Chair Robert Loiselle released a statement regarding the health of Amanda Lathlin, Manitoba NDP MLA for The Pas-Kameesak.

Loiselle said Lathlin is currently experiencing health complications and that the Caucus  is holding her and her family in their thoughts as she takes the time to deal with these concerns.

Services at Lathlin’s office remain open, and her staff continue to support constituents in The Pas-Kameesak.

They ask that the public respect Lathlin’s privacy during this time.

To help protect Manitoba’s tourism industry, Travel Manitoba is launching a program to help fixed-roof accommodations in remote areas most at risk of wildfire damage, like outfitters and lodges, to purchase heavily subsidized equipment that is compatible with the Manitoba Wildfire Service to protect buildings in the case of a wildfire.

The City of Flin Flon  encourage all of Flin Flon’s lodges and property-owning tourism operators to submit an expression of interest.

The Expression of Interest form is due today, and can be filled out and submitted through the link industry.travelmanitoba.com/wildfire-resilience.

The form is short and simple and should take less than 5 minutes to fill out.

Bust the Winter Blues will begin on Friday February the 27^th  with fun events for all ages including the Kin Trivia Night, Family Fun Skate, Glow Snow Shoe Event,  just to name a few.

One event that is returning this year will be the Home Business Market at their new location at the Uptown Curling Rink. Organizer Rikki Odua says there will be a good variety of items to come take a look at.

“The Market is anyone who makes their own stuff or has their own home business, anyone who wants to come and sell some of their wares. There’s lots of homemade products, there is baking to a sign making couple. Lots of different, neat, little businesses will be joining us. It’s a place for small local vendors to get together and display their products and things that they sell.”

This week marks the one-year anniversary of the suspicious death of Camray Baer, who was only 24 years old.

On February 7^th of last year the Gypsumville RCMP responded to a report of a house fire at an address located off Highway 6 in Pinaymootang First Nation. Two days later, the remains of Camray Baer were found in the debris.

The fire and his death are still considered suspicious and the Manitoba  RCMP Major Crime Services continue to investigate and are looking for leads.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Gypsumville RCMP at 204-659-5224, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or submit a secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

We are just one day away from kicking off the 47^th annual Denare Beach Winter Festival which will start tomorrow at the Denareplex at 4:30pm with the Musher’s Supper.

Denare Beach Rec Director Mel Durette fills us in on the rest of the activities this weekend. 

“It’s really good, we decided to continue to do it, even though of everything that happened. We just want to bring everybody back together. It’ll start off on Friday, there will be the Penny Parade, Kids Events, Turkey Curling, and Trap Setting. Saturday, we’re gonna have the Pancake Breakfast, the Bingo, they actually have...we’ll have the Dog Sled Races.”

There will also be Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides for the first time in over 8 years and a Family Fishing Derby. The Dog Sled Races will take place Saturday and Sunday at the Beaver Lake Grounds starting at 11am.

Buttons and tickets for the Musher’s Supper are available at the Village Office.

Back by popular demand, you will be able to come paint, relax and enjoy getting creative at Norva.

Paint Night is back and it will be led by Monique Rainville, Jan Modler and some Norva Artist helpers.

This is for anyone 16 and over and under 15 can attend if accompanied by an adult. It will take place at Norva on Saturday February the 21^st between 7 and 10pm and will cost $50.00 with all the supplies included.

You can phone or e-mail to register at 204-687-4237 or norvacentre@gmail.com. They accept e-transfers.

The City of Flin Flon’s Crystal Kolt and Cait Bailey the Director of Recreation were the latest guests on the CFAR City Beat Show.

The big topic of discussion was the very successful opening of the new Snow Lodge. Kolt and Bailey commented that there are plenty of other events coming up  at the Snow Lodge and look forward to making it a winter tradition.  

" I am so pleased that we got the Snow Lodge built and there are so many people that want to come and see it. Festival Du Voyageur with the school, Travel Manitoba will be doing the conference here next week and there are a couple of weddings booked.We have had lots of press that has been attention positive. There is hope that we are proving it can work and did work and that was one of the questions around it."

You listen to the full interview by going to flinflononline.com, then click on the your radio tab/ CFAR podcasts/ Flin Flon Today.

It is a big weekend in Denare Beach with not only the Denare Beach Winter Festival but the return of the Jimmy Custer Memorial Dog Sled Races this Saturday and Sunday.

One of the organizers Wally Olson says they have a number of teams entered coming in from all over. " The weather is loking very good for the spectators, we have the trail in and tomorrow we will be marking it. We are expecting mushers from Quebec, Yellowknife, St Milo Manitoba, every direction they are coming. So we have upwards of ten teams confirmed and we could end up with fifteen. It is very exciting, for our main event the ten dog,  we could have 150 dogs taking off at the same time."

You can still enter a team as registration will take place between 8 and 10am this Saturday before the races start at 11am. There will be three different races including the Ten Dog at 11am, Six Dog at 12:30pm and the Four Dog at 1:30pm. If you have access to a snowmobile feel free to come out and follow the entire race.

Saskatchewan residents can cast a line without a licence starting  this Saturday as the province will be hosting a  free fishing weekend to encourage  families and friends to celebrate Valentine’s Day on the ice.

Saskatchewan's free fishing weekend runs Feb. 14-16, giving anglers the chance to fish without a licence on any provincial waterbody open to angling.

The Sask Government wants you to keep these tips in mind.

Always put safety first. Check ice thickness before venturing out and dress appropriately for the weather. Some waterbodies have lake-specific rules and regulations, be sure to check the Anglers Guide before you head out. Don't leave a mess. Pack out all garbage and dispose of it properly.

Regular rules like possession limits still apply, and if you're planning to take your catch out of Saskatchewan, you'll need a valid angling licence.

To find out more about fishing in Saskatchewan, check the Saskatchewan Anglers Guide, available wherever fishing licences are sold or online at Saskatchewan.ca

The Bust The Winters Blue Winter Festival will begin one week from this Friday with a lot of great events indoors and outdoors.

Creighton Recreation Director Lindsay Shirran invites all the neighboring communities to come out and celebrate Winter. " Our Bust The Winter Blues Festival is coming along nicely, we have many fun events new and old that are going to be taking place that weekend starting Feb 27th. We will have a fun family fun  skate at the Whitney Forum on the Friday , a beginner Yoga class, Glow Snowshoe Event will be put on by the Trails Committee at Phantom. During the Saturday we will have the Home Business Market and a new thing we have added includes a Whitney Forum Historical Tour with Ken Pawlachuk. You can meet at the Whitney Forum lobby at 11am and we will also have a family fun day at the Sportex."

Some of the other events include Fireworks, Aloha Family Dance, Beach Bash at the Hooter, Border Explorers Snowmobile Poker Derby and Senior’s events at the Flin Flon Community Hall.

You can view the complete list of activities on Flin Flon and Creighton Recreation’s Facebook pages.

The February prompt for the Flin Flon Public Library’s  2026 Reading Challenge is "Read a book about the Olympic Games, an Olympic sport, or an Olympic Athlete.

You can join the 2026 reading challenge for a chance to  win one of three $50 book gift certificates. You will receive an entry for each monthly challenge completed, and a bonus entry if you complete all 12 monthly challenges. You can complete the challenge prompts in any order, skip those that aren't for you, and complete the prompts multiple times. The Reading Challenge sheet is available at the library, or you can download one from their website at flinflonpubliclibrary.org.

Back by popular demand  are the Escape Rooms  at the Victoria Inn in Flin Flon this weekend, which will be a fundraiser for the new Flin Flon Aqua Centre and a great way to celebrate Valentine’s day.

The fundraising committee’s Karen MacKinnon tells us that the Panic Rooms are  designed for two different age groups. " They have developed two experiences, there is going to be Cupid's Quest which is perfect for families and younger escapee's,  or anyone who enjoys a lighter challenge. Players under 8 are welcome with an adult to help crack the rules. The other one is the Stolen Arrow which is designed for teens and adults who are ready to level up on a bigger challenge."

It is $45.00 per group with a minimum of 2 players and a maximum of 8 players per group. The event takes place this up coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday. You can sign up by e-mailing kandersen@flinflon.ca.

Saskatchewan RCMP’s Prince Albert Crime Reduction Team  with the assistance of Saskatchewan RCMP’s Critical Incident Response Team and Prince Albert Police Service CRT – seized two firearms along with ammunition at a residential property in La Loche.

On February 4^th , Prince Albert CRT obtained a warrant to search a residential property in La Loche as a result of an ongoing investigation.

During the search, officers located two firearms; one shotgun and one airgun, along with ammunition.

Three adults were arrested at the scene.

As a result of the investigation, 29-year-old Kelsey Herman of La Loche was charged with one count of unauthorized possession of a firearm. 

The two other adults were released from police custody without charge.

Kelsey Herman is scheduled to appear in La Loche Provincial Court later today. 

The local Flin Flon Theatre group, Ham Sandwich is preparing for their spring production of Boston Marriage by David Mamet.

Tanisha Weseen is the Co-Director and she explains the story line. " Well Boston Marriage is set in early 1900, and the story surrounds two ladies of high class fashion. They scheme and are making up plans of how they can keep the beautiful house running and existing. The play also involves their Maid and it is a story that happens over one day."

The show will take place two nights on March the 13^th and 14^th at the Flin Flon Community Hall. Tickets are $30.00 and are available on Showpass.

Bust The Winter Blues is less than three weeks away and there are lots of events scheduled for people of all ages throughout  Flin Flon and Creighton.

One of the longest running events for Bust The Winter Blues is the annual Kin Trivia Night. Flin Flon Kin President Holly Babcock shares the details on the evening. " So this is going to be our 18th annual Trivia Night, we do four rounds of questions as well we will have some other door prizes. We will have a Penny Parade, 50/50, an an Elimination Draw. We finalize the evening with a little bit of a Social afterwards."

The proceeds from this event go towards community projects including Kin Park, bursaries for Hapnot Collegiate and Creighton Community School and any other need that may come up in the community.

The event takes place on Friday February the 27^th with cocktails at 6:30pm  and trivia at 7:30 at the Flin Flon Community Hall. Tickets are $25.00 and can be picked up at the Orange Toad and Gateway.

Over the past 24 hours, the Manitoba and Saskatchewan RCMP have deployed multiple units, including a specialized search plane, and dozens of officers from across both provinces to Pimicikamak Cree Nation to search for a male suspect and the female he abducted.

At approximately 11:15 am today, information was received that led officers to a residence in the community where Joshua Paupanekis was taken into custody without incident. Raeanne Thomas was also located safely in the residence with minor injuries and taken to the Nursing Station as a precaution.

The Manitoba RCMP would like to thank the public and the media for their assistance.

Manitoba RCMP continues to search for Joshua Paupanekis, a 39-year-old male from the Pimicikamak Cree Nation in connection with the abduction of a 20-year-old female earlier today.

 Cross Lake RCMP responded to a report that Paupanekis had entered a home yesterday, struck a 24-year-old male resident with a hammer, then abducted Raeanne Thomas. The RCMP believes she is in immediate danger. Paupanekis and Thomas are known to one another and this is considered and act of intimate partner violence.

Paupanekis was subsequently the subject of a Dangerous Person Alert issued Thursday morning by the Manitoba RCMP through the Alert Ready system.

While search efforts are concentrated in Pimicikamak Cree Nation, it is possible Paupanekis has fled the community.

Raeanne Thomas is 20-years-old, weighs about 115 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Paupanekis is 6’ tall, about 185 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.  He is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cross Lake RCMP Detachment at 204-676-2600.

Cross Lake RCMP and RCMP Major Crime Services continue to investigate.

Make your way to the Hapnot Theatre tonight for a great movie that was made in Hollywood and is about Hollywood.

The Central Canada Film Group’s Colin Davis tells us what they will be showing. " So make sure to join us tonight for Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. If you have any memory of the late 1960's, or even if you are just a fan of that era, you will want to take in this visual masterpiece. Great cast and a great film! and because it's Quentin Tarantino, there might be a bit of violence here and there. You can take that as a warning,or as a promise. We have a great pre-show for earlybirds who get to the theatre when doors open at 7pm."

The show will start at 7:30pm with snacks and drinks available at the door, and don’t forget the show is free. This movie is for a mature audience.

The Northern Health Region will once again be offering their Get Better Together 6 week program,  which they have been running right across the North the last several years including Flin Flon.

Christa McIntire explains the program. " Get Better Together is a free program that is developed for anyone living  with any ongoing health issue. So that could be Diabetes, High Blood Pressure,Cancer, Depression, Arthritis and the list go's on. Get Better Together is designed to help Manitobans with ongoing health conditions take control of their health. The weekly sessions offer group support and help build people's comfidence to better manage their health."

Get Better Together will cover physical activity, healthy eating, better breathing and muscle relaxation, medication use, positive thinking and guided imagery and working with health care.

This is a free program  that will take place at the Primary Health Care Centre and will start in late February. You can sign up and get more information by contacting Christa at 204-681-3145.

On February 4th., Carrot River RCMP received a report of a robbery at a business in Carrot River.

Officers immediately responded. Investigation determined that the suspect entered the business and threatened an individual with a gun. The individual did not report physical injuries to police.

The suspect stole a sum of cash from the business and the individual’s vehicle.

Carrot River RCMP are working to identify and arrest the suspect with the assistance of Nipawin RCMP. He is described as wearing a black hoodie, black and red checkered coat and a devil mask.

He may be driving a 2015 blue Mazda  with Saskatchewan license plate 063 LGZ.

Carrot River and Nipawin RCMP continue to investigate.

Anyone with information or who has seen this vehicle should contact Carrot River RCMP by dialling 310-RCMP. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.

There is another fun event planned for the Flin Flon Public Library this weekend to encourage you and your kids to start reading together.

Library Administrator Lisa Slugoski has more. " So this Saturday is Bring Your Child To The Library Day. So starting at 11am,  we want to welcome everyone to come celebrate with us. Bring your child to the Library, we are going to hang out in the  Toy Room downstairs. We are going to read a few stories, play with some toys and enjoy some snacks. The children must be accompanied by a adult or care giver to attend and we look forward to seeing everyone."

The Library also wants to remind you that they have extended their hours Tuesday and Wednesday and are open til 6:30 pm both days.

This past weekend , Flin Flon RCMP received a report that the large white door to the Flin Flon Snow Lodge,  had been stolen early on Saturday morning.

At approximately 5:00 am, a suspect, driving a red colored Ford Bronco, entered onto the property and removed the door from the entrance to the Snow Lodge. The suspect’s  vehicle then fled the scene.

The theft of this door was posted to a local social media page which led to several tips being called in to police.

Based on the investigation conducted and from tips received from the public, Flin Flon RCMP drafted a search warrant for a residence located on Inlet Arm Road in Schist Lake. RCMP then executed the search warrant and located the door. The owner of the residence was not located.

RCMP have issued a Warrant of Arrest out for 62-year-old Paul McIntyre who has been charged with Possession of property obtained by crime.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Flin Flon RCMP at 204-687-1422, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or submit a secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

City Council updated the public on what is happening with the Community Public Safety Committee in their latest council meeting. Mike Slipp is the chair and said that they have reached out to Manitoba Justice to help them get things organized.

Another meeting is planned for early March and are looking for ways to get the public more involved.

The Emergency Management Organization official and Flin Flon Fire Chief Jason Kuras recently met with the EMO of the province to revamp a plan to come up with more asset protection which would include adding trailors with pumps and more protection for fire equipment. QR codes will also be sent out online soon where every resident will be required to fill out a document in case of another emergency situation.

Wildfire Risk Assessment will be sending someone up to the Flin Flon area to assess the area as soon as possible and make any recommendations to get ready for fire season.

The Manitoba Finance Minister Adrien Sala will be coming up to Flin Flon on Thursday February the 19^th and will meet with Flin Flon Council members during the day before hosting a Town Hall meeting later that night at the Flin Flon Community Hall starting at 6pm. This will be open to the public.

Fantastic live music will be happening in Flin Flon and Cranberry this weekend with the return of the Home Routes series.

Canadian Fiddle Champions Jane and Kyle will be performing this weekend  and Barb Bragg out of Cranberry talks about the history of the  Home Routes Series. " It is a program that is coordinated out of Winnipeg but it invites performers from all over the place. It invites them to come and tour around the rural communities around the western provinces. Our folks usually do about 16 performances  on their tour so they are on the road for well over two weeks. They stay in people's homes and they are fed by people in the communities. It is really an opportunity for the artists to get to know the community but also the community gets to host some pretty spectacular acts."

The first show is in Cranberry this Friday at the Legion starting at 7:30, with doors opening at 7pm. Saturday’s performance  will happen at the Spencers’s home at 19 Hemlock  in Flin Flon also at 7:30pm. Tickets are still available both nights by contacting cphomeroutes@gmail.com or timelly1@gmail.com. 

Thompson RCMP received a report of a missing 24-year-old male.

Shane Wood boarded a bus in Winnipeg on January the 31^st  to travel back to his residence in Thompson but did not arrive.

Shane was last seen on the bus in Grand Rapids at approximately 5:00 am on Feb 1^st  – it is unknown where he disembarked after the stop in Grand Rapids.

RCMP are concerned for Shane’s safety.

Shane is approximately 5’8” tall, 130 pounds, with short black hair. He was last seen wearing a black and grey camo style jacket  and white sweatpants.

Thompson RCMP have conducted patrols in a number of surrounding areas but have not located him.

If you, or anyone you know may have information on his whereabouts, please call Thompson RCMP at 204- 677-6909/6911.

The Flin Flon Arts Council is once again teaming up with the Manitoba Theatre Centre for the production of Hockey Mom and Hockey Dad.

The Arts Council’s Crystal Woodward gives us the details on the story line. " This is actually about two individual parents who put their kids in a hockey league. The parents actually start to fall for each other and it is romance, it is fun and entertaining and Hockey. We all love Hockey up here."

The show will take place on Thursday March the 5^th starting at 7:30 pm at the Flin Flon Community Hall. Tickets can be picked up at the Uptown Emporium or you can get them online at flinflonartscouncil.ca by clicking on Showpass. They will also be looking for around eight individuals to help with the setup and tear down of the show and these are paid positions.

If you are interested in that you can send Crystal an e-mail at flinflonartscouncil@gmail.com.

The Manitoba Harm Reduction Network will be hosting a Testing Event at the Women’s Resource Centre in Flin Flon today.

Lots of resources are going to be available today including STBBI testing, Naloxone, ID Clinic, harm reduction supplies, as well as members from the Women’s Resource Centre and Flin Flon Aboriginal Friendship Centre will be on hand.

You should be tested if you are sexually active, 3 to 6 months since your last test, or  if you have never been tested before.

This once again takes place at the Women’s Resource Centre in Flin Flon between 12:30 and 2:30 pm today at 35 Main Street. There will be a free lunch provided.

If you are part of a volunteer group or community organization in Flin Flon, Creighton, Denare Beach,  Cranberry or Snow Lake, you still have time to apply for a grant through the Northern Neighbors Foundation.

Shylo Rogers has the details. " We have approximately $190,000.00 this year to distribute to those projects. So if you are an organization in town that has a great idea but just need a little help getting it off the ground. The applications are found on our website at northerneighbors.com, but again if you need a hand I am only a quick call away."

The deadline to apply is Friday February the 13^th and Northern Neighbors has donated over two million dollars to community projects around the North since 1997.

If you need some assistance you can call 204- 687-5715 or once again you can  go to the website at northernneighbors.com.

It was a great weekend in Flin Flon with the unveiling of the new Snow Lodge located down by the Rotary Wheel.

Lots of people made their way out for the festivities and activities that kicked off on Friday night with speeches from dignitaries and the official lighting,

Flin Flon Mayor George Fontaine hopes that people from other communities will get a chance to come out and view this very unique structure.  " It is something really special, and I would love the world to get a chance to see it, I am glad it is not going to melt tomorrow. I hope the surrounding communities get a chance to take a drive up here and take a look, get a tour through it. They can see how the grounds have changed and how the actual construction project of the Snow Lodge is. It is unique and worth seeing."

A big thank you to all the volunteers, sponsors, vendors and all the people that made their way out for a very memorable weekend.  The Flin Flon Snow Lodge is available to book for private and public events. Email flinflonsnowlodge@gmail.com for rates and availability.

Teen Challenge is preparing for one of their biggest fundraisers of the year and the event Sled For Eternity which will take place in Flin Flon this year.

Kandie Lagore and Darrel Hartwig were at the CFAR studio last Thursday and provided details on how everything will work. " The event is going to kick off at 830 in the morning with  registration for the riders, and we are hoping for snow to even better our trails. Our mission is to offer a full range of addiction tratment and recovery service with compassion and excellence. This sled event is about raising resources to help us accomplish that mission. Any rider who signs up, the cool thing is they can raise support with us and help us fulfill that great addiction and need for our community."

It takes place February the 28^th at St Anne’s Parish Hall, with riders expected to be riding from all over the province including a strong contingent from Flin Flon and Northern Manitoba.

You can register by going to the website at teeenchallenge.tc. Lots of great prizes are going to be awarded including a new sled which is a brand new 2026 Ski Doo for the highest fundraiser which is  worth over $25,000.00.

Denare Beach hosted a meeting at the Denareplex on Thursday night to update residents on progress that continues  to be made after the wildfire from last summer.

The SHSA presented different techniques and tools for mental health with some options available for counselling . The Red Cross talked about their Small Business Program and  different supports they provide for the residents and Chief Administration Officer Meredith Norman also presented information on Tax Credits. Information was also shared on what to expect for building permits and how to apply for a building permit.

Norman says things are happening but there is still a lot of work to do. " We are looking good , there is stil a lot of work to do in the community and for our residents. Each resident is in a different situation when it comes to their insurance process. Some are having an ok time while others are struggling with their insurance companies. We have brought out information from Insurance Bureau of Canada to provide to the residents to hopefully get some  more support for that. We have started on our tree mitigation program, now that the province has approved five different phases of tree mitigation , so it is basically to get the dangerous burnt trees down. We will also focus on any trees that are at risk of falling on roadways, trails, walking paths, that sort of thing."

Some really positive news includes  9 homes that are back In Denare Beach and they are expecting a new home every month until they are all back home. Any questions or concerns you can call the Village Office at 306-362-2054 and e-mail is denarebeach@sasktel.net.