Thompson Local News Archives for 2016-02

Thompson Public Library recognizes Nutrition Month beginning tomorrow

 

March 1st kicks off Nutrition Month here in Thompson, which is about recognizing positive eating habits.

All throughout the month, the Thompson Public Library will be having events to commemorate the month, including dieticians sitting in on Thursday story time to help teach kids about healthy eating.

Library Assistant Amanda Sanders says there are other events happening throughout the month, which people of all ages can find information about how to eat healthier.

"On the 24th at 1pm, they're doing an information session about healthy eating and healthy school lunches. They've also put together a book display with information pamphlets to display in the library for the month of March."

For more information on Nutrition Month, you can visit the Thompson Public Library or the Northern Regional Health Authority.

 

Heart and Stroke Foundation canvassing with Royal Canadian Air Cadets

 

As Heart and Stroke Month comes to a close here in Thompson, the Heart and Stroke Foundation will be giving one last canvass tonight, supported in part by the Thompson Royal Canadian Air Cadets.

 

The air cadets have been a group that consistently helps out with the Foundation’s canvassing every year, a tradition that Thompson and Area Campaign Chairperson Al Meston says dates back longer than he’s been there.

 

“They’ve been doing for 30-some years already. What happened in the early years, Deerwood used to be their street. And then I was having trouble with getting people to canvass in different areas, so I turned around and I took the cadets and moved them around to whatever I couldn’t get covered, which worked out better.

 

The cadets will be out from 7 to 9 pm, canvassing around the areas of Westwood Drive, Spoonbill Crescent, Pelican Crescent, Notigi Bay, Baffin Crescent, Rankin Crescent and Wolf Street.

2016 Winterfest kicks off today

 

The wait is over, as today marks the official start of Winterfest 2016.

 

It will be a jam-packed weekend with events for all ages happening today through Sunday, including a bonfire lighting and open skate tonight, as well as an event city counselor Dennis Foley is particularly looking forward to on Saturday, freestyle motocross.

 

“It’s really exciting, we have X Games athlete Josh Penner coming up to perform. He’ll be doing backflips, all kinds of tricks. And with him, we’ve also got five other athletes coming; some that have been here before on a previous show and some that haven’t.”

 

A full list of events and timings can be found at the City of Thompson website.

Science fair at Juniper School sending winners to Regional fair

 

Bill Nye himself would’ve been proud of yesterday’s science fair at Juniper School.

 

There were many great projects at this year’s science fair, but only a select few were chosen to move on to the Northern Regional Fair in The Pas.

 

Juniper’s Behavior Support Teacher Pat Pegus spoke about the importance of science fairs and what it does for the kids who participate.

 

“They learn the different points in how to solve a science question, like doctors would do or scientists would do. They have to have an idea of what they want to find out, and then they have to make a hypothesis. From there, they try to prove whether their project will work or not. And it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t work; it’s the whole process that matters.”

 

Sixteen students with ten different projects across grades 4-8 will be representing Juniper School at the Regional Fair.

Annual 'Manitoba Quits' contest reaches February contest day

 

Today, Manitobans all across the province are putting down their cigarettes in an effort to quit smoking and possibly win a cash prize.

 

Manitoba Quits is a contest started by the Lung Association of Manitoba, where for one day a month, people will try and not smoke.

 

Manitoba Quits coordinator Tracy Fehr says the contest may seem daunting, but don’t get discouraged if you don’t do it the first time.

 

“The idea is to take one small step and then see how that works; learn from it. Some people will stay quit or try it again the next month. The person can keep trying. Sometimes, people go through it five or six times before they make it to that final quit.”

 

If you are interested in entering in time for March’s contest date, visit ManitobaQuits.ca for full contest rules.

Northern Manitoba town taking in refugee family

 

A sponsorship committee is bringing a family of Syrian refugees to Flin Flon.

 

Members of the Northern Refugee Sponsorship Committee spoke to the Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday and announced that they are sponsoring a mother and her three children to move to the town.

 

The 43 year old mother and her 12, 14, and 19 year old sons will be housed at the local Cornerstone Church residence.

 

Committee member Judy Schmidt also noted that they have close to $19,000 available with which to sponsor the family, who had previously been living in Jordan.

Pink Shirt Day recognized in Thompson

 

On Wednesday, we wear pink.

 

The School District of Mystery Lake has events planned as part of Pink Shirt Day, an internationally recognized day to raise awareness of bullying in schools and the effects it can have on youth.

 

Burntwood School guidance counselor Ingrid Gosselin says that along with a district wide walk, there are various events for students to participate in.

 

“Our junior high teachers and students are promoting a pink bake sale. We are also going to ‘paint the playground pink’, so once we come back from our walk, we’re going to have activities in the playground, painting the playground pink. We’re also going to combine a jump rope for heart activity and skipping in the playground.”

 

For more information on Pink Shirt Day, visit www.pinkshirtday.ca

Family of Nicholas Brophy continues to fundraise for search efforts

 

A special event bingo was held on Monday night in order to fundraise to continue the search for Nicholas Brophy.

 

There was a strong turnout to the event, which was deemed a success by Nicholas’ grandmother, Pat Brophy. She, as well as the rest of her family, appreciates the community support.

 

“It really helps lots, with lots of people from the city. The support is unreal, we’ve got people phoning and people sending donations and the bingos, it’s amazing.”

 

Anyone with any information about Brophy’s whereabouts is to call Thompson RCMP or Crime Stoppers. He is 5’8 and 135 pounds, with short blonde hair and blue eyes, and was last seen on September 8th wearing black pants, a black and white hoodie, and black skater shoes.

Local business getting donations for prostate cancer fundraiser

 

A local barber shop is fundraising once again this year for prostate cancer research.

 

Tamara Ings and Dora Brenton from Steel Cuts are raising money for the third straight year to donate to the Telus Ride for Dad fundraising event. Proceeds last year across all of Manitoba reached over $1 million, with more than $3,500 coming from Thompson.

 

They have fundraising draws planned from now until May, including a day where all of their proceeds will be donated.

 

This year’s Manitoba Ride for Dad will be in Winnipeg on May 28th.

Annual Point-in-Time Count happening tonight, into tomorrow

 

Volunteers will be going around the City tonight to do a point-in-time count.

 

30 communities across Canada will be completing the count which provides communities with information about their homeless population. Committee member Matthew Boscariol says there are many benefits to the count.

 

“If we’re looking to build cities across Canada, specifically here in Thompson, it’s more of an understanding of how this data fluctuates over time; where do we need to focus more of our financial, our social, and our environmental resources into helping out this specific cohort in Thompson.”

 

The count starts tonight and goes into tomorrow. Last year’s count revealed 126 people identify themselves as homeless.

Poplar River RCMP officer goes above and beyond with fundraiser

 

A new initiative at Poplar River First Nation is making rare items more available.

 

An RCMP officer noticed the lack of options available in the remote community so he took matters into his own hands. He says he asked family and friend in Winnipeg to send him their good used clothing, and he held a clothing drive.

 

“Everything was very affordable, that was kind of the goal. And I ended up going to the school and talking to the principal, and they mentioned that they didn’t have a music program. So I thought that would be a great way to raise money for the children.”

 

$566 was raised through the sale, and the money was used to buy instruments for the school. The officer says he is already planning another drive.

Canadian Mental Health Association announces upcoming goals and current programs

 

A detailed presentation was given by the Canadian Mental Health Association at Wednesday’s Thompson Chamber of Commerce meeting.

 

The presentation was, in part, about their Psychosocial Rehabilitation Program, which was a joint venture with the Northern Region Health Authority beginning last November. The program seeks to help people with mental illness in all aspects of recovery, from housing and employment to education and socialization.

 

Katherine Pohjolainen, the CMHA’s Education and Training Program Coordinator, spoke about the program to those in attendance.

 

“It’s a step-by-step process directed by the participant, and the worker is there to support them and empower them. It’s not like a therapy session where they come in and talk about everything and vent, it’s actively working on recovery. So we don’t do things for them, we empower them to do them for themselves.”

 

Future priorities for the CMHA are working with businesses to establish psychological health and safety workplace standards, certifying their staff as psychological health and safety advisors at a course in Vancouver later this month, and Thompson’s upcoming Point-in-Time count.

2016 Relay for Life Kicks Off This Weekend

 

This year’s Relay for Life will be a bit shorter than in years’ past.

 

Chairperson Donna Wilson says this year’s fundraiser will end at 3am, a couple of hours earlier than before. Participants had been asking for the event to be shortened down. Wilson says participants will begin to pledge this weekend.

 

 “We’re asking people to join teams, so for a team you’d need ten people to raise $100 minimum. Our goal this year will be about 30 teams, that’s what we’re hoping for. And it’s just a really fun night.”

 

There’s a kick-off for the fundraiser tomorrow at the Quality Inn and Suites from 1-3pm.

Thompson Teen and RCMP Constable Return from Youth Workshop

 

 

A Youth Leadership Workshop in Regina has inspired an RD Parker student to make a change in Thompson.

 

Last weekend Special Constable Robert Cleveland and gr.9 student Frank Settee-Beardy joined other youth and RCMP members from across Canada for a workshop that focused on vulnerable and Aboriginal communities. Cleveland says they discussed the different issues in Thompson.

 

“We also looked at some of the different issues across Canada with a number of other youth. And then we developed an action plan, looking at some ways that we can get more youth involved in activities so they don’t go down that path, or at least build up some skills to resist those kind of temptations that we have in our community.”

 

 

Hunter’s action plan includes developing an RCMP cadet program in Thompson, which would eventually expand into a larger program called the Northern Manitoba Cadets.

Mayor Dennis Fenske urging residents to complete upcoming census

 

 

Mayor Dennis Fenske is stressing the importance of completing the 2016 census.

 

Starting May 2nd, Statistics Canada will be sending census letters and packages to all Canadian households.

 

Fenske says funding the City receives is affected when people don’t participate in the survey:   

"The impact for us is [for] each individual that’s not registered in the census, when it comes to transfer payments and grants from the federal government and the provincial government it can cost us as much as $161 per person".

 

Fenske says there were around 600 people unaccounted for during the last census in 2011.

Council approves cost of security cameras for TRCC and Norplex Pool

 

The TRCC is in for a big upgrade.

 

City Council on Tuesday approved a motion to have security cameras installed in the facility as well as the Norplex Pool.

 

The city’s Director of Recreation Parks & Culture, John Burrows, was pleased with the vote and noted that both facilities previously had very few security cameras that didn’t cover all the critical areas.

 

“We believe that this is a smart and responsible thing to do,” Burrows said. “This plan ensures that we have cameras in all areas of the facilities that will help with the safety of the patrons”.

 

Burrows has no time frame on when the cameras will be up and running as of yet, but is currently in talks with the installation company to set up a timeframe.

Burntwood Curling Club gearing up for string of bonspiels

The 2015 men's bonspiel (Photo courtesy Burntwood Curling Club).

 

The Burntwood Curling Club sure knows how to have fun.

 

They’re hosting a couple of bonspiels in the coming weeks, and although winning is the objective, so is dressing up.

 

President Grant Brown says the Ladies Bonspiel has a “Saturday Night Live” theme, while the Men’s Bonspiel will be sticking with a classic theme:

"Once again this year we’ll be doing a hockey theme. So everyone who comes out dressed in a hockey jersey of some kind will win a prize. I think this will be out 3rd year with the hockey theme, we actually have as part of it a little hockey selects thing where you pick the winners of all the games on the Saturday, and whoever wins that actually wins a trip to a Jets game". 

 

The club has also been making use of their new ice plant installed last summer. Brown says the ice has been great and they haven’t had any issues.

Northern Manitoba Trappers Festival kicks off today in The Pas

 

It’s nothing routine for 2016’s Northern Manitoba Trappers Festival.

 

The annual festival kicks off today with events scheduled from now until Sunday. Everything from chain saw events and ice sculpting, to a cured meat contest and, what Festival Chairperson Dave Roberts says is the biggest event, the World and Manitoba Championship Dog Race.

"The dog race is pretty big we’ve been doing those ever since 1916. We get racers from all over the world for that one it runs over three days, it actually starts today with tagging".

 

The Northern Manitoba Trappers Festival celebrates its 69th anniversary this week in The Pas with an opening ceremony at the Pas Friendship Centre at noon.

 

For more details on each event visit the Trappers Festival website.

I Love to Read month being celebrated across the school division

 

An annual month-long event that celebrates reading is back.

 

February is I Love to Read month and teachers throughout the province have been organizing events that promote reading.

 

Burntwood School has had a “read my t-shirt day” and a book swap to mark the month. Principal Jeff French says by showing students reading is fun, they can create lifelong readers:

"A lot of kids have phones these days and they’re texting a lot, they’re on the internet or they’re playing video games it seems like books don’t have as much appeal so we’re trying to promote reading, and show that reading is fun and that you can actually learn a lot too".

 

Other schools in the Mystery Lake School Division have been running events too.  

NRHA offering tips for those travelling to Zika affected areas

 

 

The Northern Regional Health Authority has taken some steps in response to the Zika-virus outbreak.

 

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Michael Isaac says clinicians have been informed about the virus and its risks, and they’ve done education sessions for their travel health staff.

 

He says they’re also offering personalized pre-travel health advice:

"The phone number for Thompson area is 778-1547. They would talk to you about your risks potentially of being in a Zika affected area, do some teaching about on how to prevent mosquito bites".

 

Isaac says the likelihood of the Zika virus being brought up to the North by someone who travelled to a Zika-affected area is moderate, and would most likely be an isolated case without further transmission.

 

To hear our fulll interview with Dr. Michael Isaac, tune into Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon.

"High speed sledders" near new French school becoming a problem

 

 

Snowmobilers who are used to using the Weir Road and Cree Road area to get out of the City will have to develop new habits.

 

With the presence of École Communautaire la Voie du Nord, the new francophone school, riders are being asked to take more caution in the area.

 

Mayor Dennis Fenkse says the issue was brought to the attention of the Public Safety Committee:  

"We have our CSO’s out, we’ve made the RCMP aware as well. And we’re actually looking at the 3-way stops at both ends of that area to look if we need to change anything there".

 

Fenske says it’s a learning curve, and both motorists and off-road vehicle enthusiasts will have to get used to the change.

Manitoba Metis Federation celebrating Louis Riel day today

The biography of Louis Riel and his commitment for the Metis people will be on display. (Photo courtesy Edward Palmer).

 

Residents are gathering at UCN today to celebrate Louis Riel.

 

The Manitoba Métis Federation has partnered up with the school to offer a sash making demo with live music and bannock.

 

Julyda Lagimodiere with MMF says it’s important to remember Louis Riel because for the longest time the Métis people have been the forgotten people:

"It’s only recently that Canada and Manitoba has started to recognize the important role that the Métis played, particularly Louis Riel as a leader in having Manitoba join confederation".

 

Louis Riel Day will be observed province-wide on Monday. Lagimodiere hopes people will enjoy the day, and maybe even learn more about Métis people.

Voters list getting longer as enumerators make their way through the City

 

Enumerators have been making their way through the City.

 

Donning a yellow vest, they’ve been going door-to-door to collect the names of eligible voters ahead of the upcoming provincial election.

 

Alison Mitchell, Manager of Communications and Public Information for Elections Manitoba says it’s important to get enumerated:

"People are really encouraged to be enumerated because it makes it easier to vote on Election Day if you’re on the voters list. However if you’re missed during enumeration you can still vote by coming with your ID to a voting place either advance voting or Election Day voting".

 

Mitchell says they’re still hiring additional enumerators in addition to positions at the voting office. She says the cold weather has been a challenge as enumerators aren’t able to stay outside for long. 

City Centre Mall adopts breastfeeding friendly policy

A sign like this one is now at the City Centre Mall.

 

Joining the national wave of pro-breast feeding initiatives, the City Centre Mall has adopted a breastfeeding friendly policy.

 

Manager Keith MacDonald says the NRHA approached the mall with the idea and they gladly agreed. The health authority is actively working towards achieving baby friendly designations across the region.

 

MacDonald breast feeding mothers are now free to feed their child anywhere in the mall:

"There’s not a sectioned off area per se. We have 4 benches in front of my office here; it’s a quieter area of the mall, it’s not so much traffic and we just encourage [to breast feed there] if they want the quiet. Really, quite frankly they can breastfeed anywhere they’d like".

 

MacDonald says they never had a policy on breast-feeding in place so mothers have always been welcome to feed their child

 

Signs letting people know the mall is now a “breastfeeding friendly place” were put up last week.

3rd annual Healthy Families Healthy Relationships Workshop set for Friday

 

The Thompson Crisis Centre is promoting the importance of healthy family relationships.

 

On Friday the non-profit organization will be hosting a full day of events aimed at educating adults and children on how to have a healthy family relationship.

 

Mary from the Crisis Centre says they will have two guest speakers:

"Our first guest speaker is Shannon Buck speaking in the morning, and then we have lunch provided. In the afternoon we have Jeanette Kimball speaking. I will be speaking between 3 and 4pm explaining the services which we provide at the Thompson Crisis Centre".

 

There is a workshop for adults and one for youth, and the day will wrap up with the “healthy family fun night”. 

 

You can pre-register with the Thompson Crisis Centre.

New LED street lights working well except for rare "flickering"

 

Manitoba Hydro's LED conversion program will see 30,000 street lights across the province replaced (Manitoba Hydro).

 

If you’ve spotted the new LED street lights flicker on and off, you’re not alone.

 

Bruce Owen with Manitoba Hydro says they’ve noticed it too. He says it happens rarely, and only when it gets especially cold. But it’s not because of the street lights themselves. Owen says it appears to be an infrastructure or wiring issue and that they are monitoring it.

 

Other than that, Owen says the lights seem to be working quite well, and that the LED’s love the cold.

 

The LED lights hit the streets of Thompson last summer, with about 2,700 lights in total converted in the City. By next month more than 30,000 street lights in the province will have been replaced with LEDs.

Home Routes concert series continues with performance from Coco Love Alcorn

 

Coco Love Alcorn will be performing in Thompson tonight.

 

The soulful jazz and pop artist is making a stop in the city as part of the Home Routes concert circuit series.

 

Alcorn has been performing in Northern Manitoba over the last few weeks, and says it's been an incredible experience so far:

"It’s been incredible, like the hospitably everywhere, and the warmth of the people and the scenery that we’re seeing, it’s really amazing. I think all of the towns we’ve hit on this route have been new to me".

 

Alcorn says her performances are interactive, as everybody is a part of it. You can check her out tonight at 7:30pm at 42 Wekusko St.

Reins of Vale Manitoba Operations handed over to Mark Scott

Mark Scott assumes the role of Vice President of Vale Manitoba Operations.

 

A new Vice President of Vale Manitoba Operations has been named.

 

Mark Scott will be at the helm of the operations following the departure of Lovro Paulic. Scott assumes the role effective immediately.

 

A news release says Scott began his career as an HR Business Partner at Vale’s Ontario Operations in 2001. He’s held a number of roles within the company, most recently as Manager of Mining and Milling in Manitoba. Scott has also played a key role in negotiations including Lead Negotiator in 2014.

 

In a statement, Scott says he appreciates the opportunity. He says by staying focused on things they can control and by continuing to improve together every day, they will meet the business challenges currently faced and build a sustainable mining and milling operation well into the future.

3rd annual Woofstock set for February 27

 

An event that attracts music lovers and pet lovers alike is back.

 

The 3rd annual Woofstock is scheduled for this month.The event raises money for the Thompson Regional Humane Society’s new building.

 

President Oswald Sawh recommends people get their tickets soon:

"Woofstock of course is live bands, this our 3rd annual event. It’s been extremely successful, the last two years have always been sold out. In fact Thompsonites who have a habit of waiting till the last few days to buy a ticket are usually scrambling".

 

Sawh says there will be 7 bands this year instead of 5. This year’s Woofstock will fall on February 27th, coinciding with Winterfest.

Manitoba Crimestoppers recognize long time Thompson volunteer

(L to R) Inspector Dave Shuttleworth from Manitoba North District Operations, Kathy Hinds, and Thompson Crimestoppers board member Norma Leahy (RCMP).

 

A longtime Crimestoppers volunteer has been recognized by the organization for her service. 

 

Last week Manitoba North District Operations Officer Inspector Dave Shuttleworth presented Kathy Hinds with an award of appreciation for her service with the Manitoba Crimestoppers board.

 

Hinds tells us she’s been involved with Crimestoppers in both Thompson and Winnipeg:

"I’ve been volunteering in the Thompson board since the early 70’s and I’ve been with the Winnipeg board since the 80’s. I joined the board because I just wanted to stop the crime that was going on".

 

Hinds says the recognition is a beautiful gesture, and despite being involved for so many years, she says she has no plans of stopping her involvement.

City councillors getting iPads in an effort to go "paperless"

 

The City is stepping up their technology usage.

 

In an effort to go “paperless” each city councillor will be receiving an iPad to use for city work.

 

Mayor Dennis Fenkse says council meeting agendas are usually multiple pages long with attachments included, and that the iPads will reduce the City’s use of material resources.

 

During Monday’s city council meeting an iPad Usage Policy was passed. It provides a guideline on the usage of the devices. It states that council members are responsible for the iPads, and that the devices are to be passed on to future council members. 

 

Fenske says the new addition follows what many other municipalities are doing.

 

Mild weather preventing some winter roads from opening

 

Problems continue to come up in the development of winter roads this year.

 

A few days into February and winter roads to 7 of 20 remote communities are still not open, and some of the ones that are open have reduced loading until ice thickens enough.

 

In most years all the roads are open by late December or early January.

 

The province says the environment has resulted in less than ideal conditions for the development of ice based activities. They expect the remaining roads to open in the next 2 weeks.

Operation Red Nose hands out donations to organizations in the City

Seven organizations in Thompson were given donations from this past year’s Operation Red Nose campaign.

 

More than $12,000 was divided between the Boys and Girls Club, the Atom A King Miners, the Kin Club, the Societies of Manitobans with Disabilities, MKO, Albert’s Fund, and the Troy Anand Fund.

 

The non-profit Red Nose gave more than 300 rides to Thompsonites too intoxicated to drive this past year, as well as saw a $2,000 rise in donations compared to their 2014 campaign.

Thompson RCMP detachment expecting new Officer in Charge

 

Thompson RCMP are welcoming 2 new members to their team.

 

At yesterday’s Chamber of Commerce meeting, Staff Sargeant Kevin Lewis said Will Tewnion has been promoted to the North District so they’re awaiting a new Inspector and Officer in Charge. This comes after recently adding a new police dog to their service. Lewis said the new dog is very ambitious, with a very high success rate for dog tracking.

 

Lewis was updating chamber members on the Thompson RCMP. He said “pioneer programs” like the Community Safety Officers and 95 Cree Road continue to help the RCMP with their work.

 

Crime stats from last year were also shared. Lewis said the detachment responded to over 2,400 intoxicated persons as well as over 1,500 missing persons complaints, although he said the bulk are youth not returning to youth homes.

 

 

Lewis said they’ve also been training members to be able to recognize symptoms of drug impairment. He says it’s a beneficial tool for them to use.

Paint Lake Provincial Park will offer an extended fall camping season for another year

 

Those who enjoyed last year’s extended camping season will be able to enjoy it for another year.  

 

In a letter responding to Mayor Dennis Fenske, Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Tom Nevakshonoff writes that the extended fall camping will continue in the 2016 camping season. Last summer the park was open for an extended fall season as part of a pilot project.

 

There are however no plans to increase the level of seasonal camping. Nevakshonoff writes that Paint Lake currently offers 100 seasonal campsites, representing 57% of the total sites available at the campground. He says this is well in excess of the provincial average which is 25%.

 

The letter also says that the possibility of additional cottage lots inside and outside the park was explored, but most of the area available is covered by Vale mining claims. The City plans to set up a meeting with the province and Vale to see if cottage development can be considered.

Free bus rides for Mystery Lake students continue into February

 

School District of Mystery Lake students can continue to use public transportation for free this month.

 

The City and the district partnered up to offer the free rides for the month of January and they’ve made arrangements to continue the rides for February.

 

The free rides are offered to provide a safe, free, and warm mode of transportation for students during the cold, Winter months.

 

 

No word yet on whether the rides will continue into March.

City to move forward with Mystery Lake Rd pedestrian plan after resolution to rescind fails to carry

Councillors passed a resolution approving the plan outlined above during the January 4th council meeting.

 

A lengthy back and forth between councillors ended with the pedestrian crosswalk plans at Mystery Lake Road moving forward.

 

During Monday night’s city council meeting a resolution to rescind the January 4th decision was brought forward by Councillor Dennis Foley, who had missed that meeting. He was looking for councilors to reconsider their decision to approve a plan that will redirect people to cross Mystery Lake Rd at Selkirk Ave instead of Nelson Rd.

 

Numerous issues were raised by councilors in favour of rescinding such as whether it solves the safety issue and whether other potential solutions were taken into consideration.

 

Councillors against the rescind argued all options were explored, and that the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee had debated the options extensively.

 

With a vote of 5-4 the motion to rescind didn’t pass, and the City will continue to pursue the plan.

 

Mayor Dennis Fenske, and Councillors Blake Ellis, Dennis Foley, and Penny Byer voted in favour of rescinding.

 

 

See: Councillor Dennis Foley requesting council rescind Mystery Lake Rd. pedestrian crosswalk plan

 

See: City approves plan that will redirect pedestrians to Selkirk Ave instead of Nelson Rd when crossing Mystery Lake Rd

Councillor Dennis Foley requesting council rescind Mystery Lake Rd. pedestrian crosswalk plan - See more at: https://thompsononline.ca/the-thompson-local-news/171412#sthash.dVs2S4Aq.dpuf

YWCA accepting nominations for Women of Distinction Awards

 

The YWCA Thompson is once again accepting nominations for their annual Women of Distinction Awards.

 

The ceremony honours women whose outstanding activities and achievements contribute to the well-being and future of her community.

 

Women’s Programs Coordinator Nina Cordell explains the criteria for nominees to be considered eligible.

"We have the women of distinction award which is a woman over the age of 30 who has contributed to her community and it can be anyone. They have to live north of the 53rd parallel. And then we also have the Chantelle Chornoby Memorial Award for young women of distinction, which is a young woman under the age of 30".

 

Nominations will be accepted from now until March 14th. The 8th annual ceremony will take place April 23rd.

City proposing new levy for water, storm, and sewer service lines tomorrow

 

If you’re a residential homeowner you may want to attend a public hearing tomorrow.

 

The City will be proposing a special service levy for the maintenance of municipal water, storm and sewer service lines. Mayor Dennis Fenske says the levy acts like an insurance policy for residential homeowners:

"In the case of a waterbreak at your property that’s beyond 1 meter from your foundation, so its 1 meter to the city main, if there’s a break in that line currently the practice is to repair that line, do the alterations, and the homeowner does not get a bill. They don’t get a bill because they’ve paid that special levy".

 

The levy has been in place for many years but it’s expired. In the last 3 years it’s cost around $90 a year. The City is proposing a $120-$140 levy over the next 4 years.

 

The hearing happens tomorrow at 7pm at City Hall.

Norplex Pool reopens after 2 week closure

 

The Norplex Pool has reopened.

 

The facility had been closed for two weeks after the main pump broke.

 

During City Beat, Mayor Dennis Fenske said membership expiration dates would not be extended to make up the lost days.

 

The pool opened at 6am this morning.

First day of Heart Month today

Last year's Heart Month raised $9.5 million across Canada.

 

You might get a knock on your front door from the Heart and Stroke foundation this month.

 

February is Heart Month and volunteers will be going door-to door to raise funds.

 

Program Coordinator, Yvanne Dandan says over $15,000 was raised in Thompson last year:

"We do have a lot of communities throughout the province that are involved in this campaign, but Thompson is in top 5 in terms of revenue raised. They are #4 for the highest revenue raised as a community with of course Winnipeg being #1 which is a large community. That is such a great accomplishment for Thompson".

 

Dandan says the money goes towards research and programs the organization runs.

 

To find out more about Heart Month, listen to Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon.

City achieves increased safety audit score for another year

 

The City saw an increase in their safety audit score for last year.

 

Out of a possible 4.0 the City earned an average score of 2.5 in 2015, a 0.2 increase from the previous year. This shows the City continues to trend towards ZeroHarm.

 

The increase is attributed to SafeOperations, a program launched in Thompson in 2008. The average safety audit score was 0.8 at that time.

 

SafeOperations Manager, Michelle Smook says SafeOperations is a never ending journey, and that ZeroHarm is their goal.

 

The higher score means lower Workplace Compensation Board rates. They’ve gone from $3.43 per $100 payroll to $1.04 since the start of the program. 

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