Tomorrow, the 33rd Annual Trade Show and Sale kicks off at 4 o’clock.

You can expect an arena filled with local and out-of-town vendors providing a wide variety of goods and services.

There will also be non-profit organizations at the show, looking to provide you with information about what they do.

The show will run tomorrow from 4 until 10 pm, Saturday from ten until eight, and Sunday from eleven until three.

Everything is taking place at the C.A. Nesbitt Arena.    Admission is free.

The Manitoba government has appointed a new chairperson and full-time vice-chairperson to the Manitoba Labour Board, Labour and Immigration Minister Malaya Marcelino announced today.

“The Manitoba Labour Board has the important role of assisting Manitobans and employers by ensuring fair and efficient resolution of labour matters,” said Marcelino. “I am pleased to welcome Karine Pelletier and Helen Krahn, both highly respected labour and administrative lawyers with adjudicative experience, to their new roles on the board. I also want to thank outgoing chair Colin S. Robinson for more than 20 years of service with the board and wish him well in his future endeavours.”

Pelletier, the board’s current full-time vice-chairperson, has been appointed to chairperson to replace Robinson, whose term expired April 30. Pelletier is a mediator and arbitrator who practices in labour, employment, human rights and administrative law.

Krahn, who was a part-time vice-chairperson, has been appointed to full-time vice-chairperson. Krahn is an arbitrator on the Manitoba Labour Board’s list of arbitrators and a deputy chief commissioner at the Residential Tenancies Commission.

“I am thrilled to be offered the opportunity to serve as the Manitoba Labour Board’s next chairperson,” said Pelletier. “The board is well-respected in the community due in large part to individuals who have served before me. I am eager to continue to build on our successes, strengthening relationships and serving our labour and employment community.”

The Manitoba Labour Board is an independent and autonomous specialist tribunal responsible for the fair and efficient administration and adjudication of responsibilities assigned to it under the Labour Relations Act. The board also has statutory responsibilities under 13 other statues including the Employment Standards Code, the Construction Industry Wages Act and the Workplace Safety and Health Act.

The Manitoba Labour Board consists of a chairperson, vice-chairpersons and an equal number of members representing employees and employers.

On May 1, 2024, at approximately 9:00 am, Gypsumville RCMP responded to a report of a shooting at a residence in Lake St. Martin First Nation. Officers responded immediately and located a deceased adult female on scene. Her death is being investigated as a homicide.

The incident does not appear to be random.

RCMP Major Crime Services is en route to the community to take carriage of the investigation.

More information will be provided when it becomes available.

Premier Wab Kinew and Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara met with more than 120 front-line health-care workers at Health Sciences Centre (HSC) Winnipeg last night to hear their concerns, experiences and ideas on the sixth stop of their health-care listening tour.

“After listening to the amazing team at HSC Winnipeg, it’s crystal clear that we have to step up our game when it comes to keeping our health-care workers safe and sound,” said Kinew. “As we continue our listening tour, we continue to hear feedback from front-line workers about how we can improve patient care, lower wait times and make the system a better place to work. That feedback informs the decisions we make as a government every day – including our vision for the future of health care. I want to thank all the workers who have the taken time to share their thoughts with us. Together, we can fix health care.”

Kinew and Asagwara noted the HSC Winnipeg stop on the health-care listening tour was their largest attended event yet.

“We can’t fix health care without working with and listening to health-care workers,” said Asagwara. “HSC Winnipeg is a pillar in our health-care system, providing complex and specialized care to those that need it most. The concerns and experiences we heard last night will inform our creative solutions moving forward. I look forward to what we will accomplish together.”

The in-person listening tour will continue over the next few months with stops in rural Manitoba at Bethesda Regional Health Centre in Steinbach and Thompson General Hospital. More locations will be added in the future, noted the minister.

Health-care workers can anonymously share their experiences, current views of the health-care system, thoughts on work-life balance and suggestions on how to improve Manitoba’s health care through EngageMB at https://engagemb.ca/listeningtothefrontline.

As part of its commitment to making Manitobans feel safer at home, school and work, the Manitoba government is hosting a public safety summit to discuss pathways to reduce crime, keep communities safe and address the root causes of crime, Premier Wab Kinew and Justice Minister Matt Wiebe announced today.

“Too many Manitobans are feeling unsafe at home, at work and in our communities, while at the same time more Manitobans are struggling with chronic homelessness, mental health and addictions, and we know more needs to be done to address these issues,” said Kinew. “Our government is reaching out to stakeholders across the province to get their input as we work to make sure Manitoba families feel safe in their communities. We believe that we can do big things if we come together as one Manitoba.”

The public safety summit brought together a variety of community leaders from across Manitoba, including representatives from Indigenous leadership and organizations, law enforcement, restorative justice, victims service organizations, municipalities, advocates serving vulnerable populations and other agencies, to discuss shared priorities and how to address the root causes of crime.

“Manitobans deserve to feel safe no matter where they live or work,” said Wiebe. “This summit is one part of our government’s plan to get tough on crime and the root causes of crime. We want to hear ideas from community leaders on how to make Manitoba safer.”

Sessions at the summit included:

mental health, addictions and homelessness;

youth violence;

gender-based violence and MMIWG2S+;

rural and northern safety;

access to justice and victim services;

vandalism, theft and property crime;

law enforcement;

organized crime; and

strengthening the Criminal Code.
 

Feedback from the summit will be incorporated into a provincewide strategy to reduce crime and make communities safer. The justice minister noted he will continue to meet with stakeholders across the province throughout the spring and summer in preparation for a strategy, which will be released in late September.

Early Saturday morning, a man and woman were wounded in separate attacks near Brandon Crescent in Thompson by a group of youth.

Just after midnight, a 33-year-old man arrived at the hospital with a stab wound believed to be caused by a  machete.

He had been walking in the Brandon Crescent area when he was approached by three or four young males who asked the victim for a cigarette. He was then physically assaulted and injured by the weapon.

Later,  while RCMP were patrolling in the area of Brandon Crescent and Queen’s Bay, an injured female flagged them down.   She was also approached by three or four males who asked her for a cigarette. She was then physically assaulted and injured by what is  believed to be a machete.

Both victims were treated and released at the hospital.

If you have information about these assaults, please call Thompson RCMP at 204-677-6909 or go to manitobacrimestoppers.com.

This Wednesday, an elite group of musicians from the University of Manitoba will share their skills with local music students.

Kevin Lewis, the Music Director at R.D. Parker Collegiate, shares the details.

“The University of Manitoba Wind Ensemble is their top concert band performing ensemble. There are 49 musicians who will be coming up to Thompson that are part of a Northern Manitoba tour. They are going to be playing with students from RD Park Collegiate and working with them along with a couple of other schools in the North of Manitoba.”  

On Wednesday night at 7 in the Letkemann Theatre, the Wind Ensemble will be joined on stage by the R.D. Parker Concert band and the Thompson Community Band.

The community is invited to attend and the cost of admission is free.

As part of a commitment to build safer, healthier communities where individuals, children, youth and families can thrive, the Manitoba government is launching a new community development program that will focus on revitalization and community building in high-needs neighbourhoods, Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Ian Bushie announced here today.

“Our government believes in revitalizing, supporting and building communities from the ground up to create healthier and safer neighbourhoods in Manitoba,” said Bushie. “It is our goal to support Manitobans where and when they need us most. We encourage all eligible applicants to apply for the From the Ground Up program and thank everyone for their continued efforts in helping our communities grow and thrive.”

The Manitoba government is investing $12.5 million to launch the From the Ground Up – Safe Healthy Communities for All program, which will focus on the revitalization of high-needs neighbourhoods throughout Manitoba and community infrastructure and initiatives to support poverty and crime reduction efforts.

Grants under the program will support initiatives in the areas of community capacity building, community economic development, well-being and recreation, and housing and safety co-ordination supports.

“As an organization with a mandate surrounding capacity building, advocacy, community development, recreation, housing and homelessness we are driven by the people that we serve.” said Rushana Newman, executive director, Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation. “We strive to engage in initiatives aimed at community revitalization. From the Ground Up is clearly built in the true spirit of community revitalization. In every community there are a group of non-profits, businesses, residents and clients who are working with their municipal governments to develop and revitalize their communities but they are unable to do so without supports. A big thank you to our provincial partners for giving us hope by means of this new program. We look forward to leveraging these funds within our community to build a better Brandon.”

Intake for the program will launch today and eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, Northern Affairs community councils and municipalities. The intake deadline is May 31.

Under the program, applicants can apply for funding under the following three streams:

Community Renewal Initiatives;

Community Spaces; and

Healthy, Safe, Connected Children and Youth.
 

In addition, the program will also invest in expanding and extending service for children and youth programs. The province has allocated $800,000 for non-application-based strategic partnerships to support after school and weekend programs in high-needs areas in Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson.

The new program will repurpose the former Building Sustainable Communities program. From the Ground Up will focus on supporting community renewal initiatives and improving neighbourhoods and community spaces that are most in need, the minister noted.

This initiative aligns with commitments made in Budget 2024 to invest in community supports to build safe and healthy communities for all Manitobans.

To learn more and apply for the From the Ground Up program, visit www.gov.mb.ca/grants/.

The Manitoba government will soon require Manitoba public sector organizations to make information and communication more accessible, Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine, minister responsible for accessibility, announced today.

“So much of our world revolves around access to information and Manitobans should not face barriers when accessing digitally, in print or through interactions with technology or people,” said Fontaine. “The accessible information and communication standard removes barriers and ensures we all strive to identify, reduce and remove barriers for everyone, including the one-in-three Manitobans with a disability.”

As of May 1, Manitoba public sector organizations will have to comply with the accessible information and communication standard regulation under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA). The standard improves accessibility by:

building on existing requirements of the Human Rights Code;

requiring websites and web content to follow globally recognized Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 standards to a minimum level AA;

requiring organizations to provide information in an accessible format or through a communication support if requested;

requiring organizations to develop a feedback process, implement policies and practices to enhance accessibility and provide training to relevant staff; and

setting specific requirements for supporting the purchase of accessible library resources within public libraries and supporting accessible material for students at educational institutions.
 

The minister noted an online training module on the requirements of the standard is available on the Manitoba Accessibility Office’s AMA learning portal. Presented in plain language, the training includes examples of how to comply, tips for best practices and other useful resources.

The accessible information and communication standard regulation is the third standard under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act. For more information or to take the training, visit: https://accessibilitymb.ca./.

For more information on WCAG guidelines, visit www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/glance/.

Today kicks off Tim Horton’s Smile Cookie Campaign.

Every year, the campaign teams up with a local charity as the recipient of the money raised from Smile Cookie sales.

This year, the local Tim Horton’s has chosen the Thompson Regional Humane Society as the recipient of the funds.

Here is Oswald Sawh, Board Chair for the Humane Society.

“Each cookie costs $1.50 and 100% of those sales will come to the Humane Society and our plan this year is to raise $25,0000.”  

Sawh says the money raised from this Smile Cookie Campaign will go to purchase equipment for the Humane Society’s clinics held throughout the year.

You can drop by Tim Horton’s to pick up your cookies until Sunday.

If spring cleaning has piles of garbage, e-waste and hazardous waste accumulating in your house or garage, hold on.

The summer hours at the Waste Disposal Grounds are coming soon.

Mayor Colleen Smook shared that information on Thursday during City Beat.

“The Waste Disposal Grounds will be open on Saturdays starting on the May long weekend so that’s less than a month from now. Right now, it’s a Monday to Friday operation.”

A load of regular garbage costs $11 and there is an extra charge of $21 each for items like couches and beds.

Currently household hazard waste products and e-waste can be dropped off on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There is no cost to dispose of any items in these categories.

For a complete list of items that can be disposed of at the Waste Disposal Grounds and the fees, go to thompson.ca under Services.

If your business imports products, you have to register for the Canada Border Services Agency Assessment and Revenue Management System, known as CARM.

And this applies to businesses who import items only once or twice a year, to businesses who import consistently.

Michelle Auger (Oh-Jhay), a senior policy analyst with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business explains the purpose of CARM.

“CARM is an online portal that aims to streamline the way taxes and duties are collected on goods that are imported into Canada. This is the go-to system that will be used by all importers in Canada in order to get their goods across the border.”

CARM’s original mandatory start date was mid-May, but due to low registration at this time and the need for training, the CBSA has pushed the date to mid-October.

Auger says nearly two thirds of small or micro-businesses have been involved with importing to some level, but they may not have the same capacity as larger businesses to manage the intricacies of CARM.  

She says the CFIB is happy with the extension to the registration deadline.

Learn more about CARM and how it might impact your business.  Catch the interview with Auger at thompsononline.ca.

April 28th is the official National Day of Mourning here in Canada.

According to the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada, in 2022, 993 workplace fatalities were recorded.   Added to these, there were almost 349-thousand accepted claims for lost time due to a work-related injury or disease.

That was an increase of almost 72-thousand.

Anne Tennier, CEO and President of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, says workplace safety is a team effort.

“We always say that everyone has a role to play in workplace health and safety and this is also an important component when creating a work place culture of prevention where we are looking at not only our own safety but the safety and wellbeing of our fellow colleagues.”

Tennier says the most vulnerable workers are “new workers” - those that are new to the work force, new to the country, new to a workplace or changing to a new profession or career.

Hear more about the National Day of Mourning and why workplace safety is paramount, catch Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

On September 9, 2021, first responders attended to a house fire in Northlands Denesuline First Nation. Upon examination of the scene, officers discovered the remains of Brent Denechezhe, 31, and Leona Tssessaze, 24.

Following a two-and-a-half-year investigation, officers with the Manitoba RCMP Major Crime Services have determined that on the evening of September 9, 2021, Brent, Leona, and a male suspect were together at Brent’s home. The suspect left the residence after a disagreement and later returned with a firearm. Investigators believe the homicides occurred upon this return visit. The suspect then left again, and returned moments later to the residence. The house was then seen engulfed in flames.
 

Autopsies confirmed the victims died as a result of injuries caused by the firearm.
 

On April 22, 2024, officers with Manitoba RCMP Major Crime Services attended to Fond du Lac, Saskatchewan, where they arrested Leon Paul Mercredi, 22. Mercredi is charged with two counts of First Degree Murder for the double homicide of Brent and Leona.

Mercredi is originally from Northlands Denesuline First Nation, but left the community shortly after the homicides occurred. He has been transported to Winnipeg, where he remains in custody.

The RCMP continues to seek information on this investigation and asks anyone with knowledge to call the tipline at 431-489-8112. While information is still being sought, investigators do not believe anyone else is involved in the shooting.

“The conclusion we have here today could not have happened without three things – the strength and courage of Brent and Leona’s mothers, Veronique and Ellen; the assistance of the people of Northlands Denesuline First Nation; and the tenacity and dedication of our investigators,” said Superintendent Rob Lasson, Officer in Charge of Manitoba RCMP Major Crime Services. “While we have been able to provide some answers to Leona and Brent’s families, we cannot take away their immense loss. Our condolences go out to the families and the community, and we hope the arrest of a suspect helps them on their healing journey.”

The Manitoba government is supporting Take Pride Winnipeg through a $46,000 grant that will be used to help educate Manitobans on the importance of waste diversion, recycling and keeping communities litter-free, Environment and Climate Change Minister Tracy Schmidt announced today.

“We are immensely proud of our beautiful province and I am pleased to offer our government’s support to Take Pride Winnipeg,” said Schmidt. “Small steps like picking up litter can have a big impact in our communities and we would like to thank Take Pride Winnipeg for its role in making Manitoba cleaner and greener.”

Take Pride Winnipeg operates across Manitoba and runs educational programming, reaching thousands of Manitobans. Each year, with the support of Take Pride Winnipeg, community groups, schools and businesses unite to beautify streets, parks and playgrounds through the “Team Up To Clean Up” program.

“Take Pride Winnipeg would like to thank the Manitoba government for this funding, which is helping deliver programs that keep our communities clean,” said Tom Ethans, executive director, Take Pride Winnipeg. “If every person in Manitoba picks up a piece of litter, that’s over a million pieces of litter off the ground.”

For more information on Take Pride Winnipeg, visit www.takepride.mb.ca.

For information on recycling and waste reduction in Manitoba, visit: www.manitoba.ca/sd/wastewise/index.html.

On April 23, 2024, at approximately 7:45 am, Pukatawagan RCMP responded to a stabbing at a residence in the community. It was reported the injured male was now at the nursing station.

Officers immediately attended and located an injured 42-year-old male. The male succumbed to his injuries at the nursing station.

RCMP Major Crime Services attended the community to assist, and Sky Colomb, 27, was arrested and charged with Second Degree Murder. He was remanded into custody.

The Manitoba government is developing a provincial sexual assault response strategy led by local experts to provide compassionate and timely care to survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence no matter where they live, Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara and Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine announced today.

“Thanks to the dedicated work of nurses, doctors, care providers and community partners, Manitobans will have access to safe and culturally appropriate care where they feel most comfortable,” said Asagwara. “Our government is looking forward to bringing together the experience and expertise of these providers under one co-ordinated provincial strategy, expanding this wholistic approach to sexual assault and intimate partner violence care to other areas of the province.”

A new provincial sexual assault response strategy will be developed over the coming year. It will build on the work of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program in Winnipeg community organizations and hospitals, to extend care and supports to rural and northern communities. It will also identify other programs, services and supports that will help prevent and respond to sexual assaults and intimate partner violence, Asagwara added.

This work is now underway, led by Dr. Yvette Emerson, Dr. Vanessa Poliquin and Leslie Spillett. More details about the strategy will be shared in the coming months, the ministers noted, adding, their work will centre survivors and will be informed by the experience of care providers working in this field.

The community of people who support survivors of sexual assault, including nurses, physicians, elders and community partners, gathered at the Manitoba Legislative Building today as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Both ministers took the opportunity to honour their critical work in providing compassionate, culturally safe and trauma-informed support for Manitobans.

“Caring for survivors of sexual violence is sacred work, which is why we rely on the support of experts,” said Fontaine. “There is so much more to do to protect women, girls and two-spirit peoples, and we will centre the experience of these survivors and the expertise of the communities who care for them, to shape the path forward.”

“Ministers Asagwara and Fontaine have gifted us a rare opportunity to come together and co-create a comprehensive, equitable provincial strategy that has the potential to be transformative in not only addressing immediate care needs but one that offers this care in such a way that our relatives impacted by sexual and intimate partner violence move along a path toward healing and wellness,” said Dr. Yvette Emerson, emergency medicine and family physician, Sandy Bay First Nation.

The Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence program offers forensic examinations and follow up support to sexual assault survivors from across Manitoba. The program was expanded in January to include non-emergent, trauma-informed care in community. Additional nurses have completed their forensic nursing training at Northwestern Polytechnic and have been providing care since last fall. The ministers noted the expansion of survivor care to rural and northern communities is a necessary step for ensuring all Manitobans have access to safe and culturally appropriate care close to home.

If any Manitobans or their family members, friends or loved ones have experienced sexual assault or intimate partner violence, support is available by calling the Sexual Assault Crisis Line in Winnipeg at 204-786-8631 or toll-free throughout Manitoba at 1-888-292-7565.

The Healthy Together Now program helps prevent chronic disease in Manitoba.

This grassroots program has been around for a number of years, and is funded by the provincial government and the various health regions.

Bruce Krentz with the Northern Health Region explains how it works here.

“What it is an opportunity for groups in the community or non profits for different organizations to come forward and look for some funding for different programs that relate to chronic disease prevention so if they are around healthy eating, physical activity, quitting smoking, or mental wellbeing, we would love to hear from you.”

Krentz advises those interested in the program to go to the website Healthytogethernow.net.

It explains how to apply for funds and shows other projects that have been funded in the past.

More information will be available at the Northern Health Region booth next weekend at the CHTM Trade Show.

As part of Budget 2024, initial work is underway to restore the Victoria Hospital as a centre for exceptional health care in southern Winnipeg, with plans to open a new Victoria Hospital emergency room (ER), reopen the Mature Women’s Centre and build the Anne Oake Family Recovery Centre, Premier Wab Kinew and Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced today.

“For too long, people in south Winnipeg have gone without emergency care in their community after the previous government closed the Victoria ER,” said Kinew. “We’re fulfilling our commitment to build a new ER at the Vic. Our budget has the funds to begin that work, while also reopening the Mature Women’s Centre and helping to establish the Anne Oake Family Recovery Centre.”

As part of Budget 2024, the province is investing $635 million in capital projects for the health sector including the work needed to enhance the services at Victoria Hospital. A comprehensive evaluation of the capital project will take place, which includes preliminary design work, scoping and project costing. Construction of the new emergency room is expected to begin within two years, once staffing is secured, noted the premier.

“The best time to start on a difficult task – like reopening an emergency department – is today,” said Asagwara. “We are moving forward with the groundwork to return emergency care and mature women’s care to the Victoria Hospital because local care matters, particularly when there’s an urgent medical need and time is of the essence. Residents of south Winnipeg will be able to have peace of mind knowing medical help is closer, plus this added capacity will take pressure off the entire system and help bring emergency wait times down.”

The premier and minister noted work will also move forward in the coming year to make other upgrades at Victoria Hospital including the reopening of the Mature Women’s Centre for women and gender-diverse people, and the creation of the Anne Oake Family Recovery Centre. The Anne Oake Family Recovery Centre, an addictions treatment facility for women, will allow children to stay with women in treatment, helping to keep families together, the premier and minister added.

“Anne Oake spent her life caring for others. This Recovery Centre will carry her values forward in delivering addictions care for women,” said Scott Oake. “It will offer wraparound supports, like child care, to reduce barriers to entry so every person can access the care they need. It makes sense to pair our centre with the Victoria Hospital, a hospital that has been dedicated to women’s health care for decades. We’re proud to work with the Manitoba government to make this project a reality.”

Victoria Hospital’s emergency room was closed in 2017 as part of health-care restructuring led by the previous government, the premier noted. This also closed the Mature Women’s Centre.

Budget 2024 delivers on the Manitoba government’s commitment to rebuild health care and lower costs for families. It reflects the values and priorities of everyday families across the province.

To learn more about Budget 2024, visit www.manitoba.ca/budget2024.

In 2010, the Red Dress Project was initiated by Metis artist Jaime (Jay-me) Black.

She created the powerful art project as a visual reminder of the staggering number of missing and murdered indigenous women across Canada.  

What started as red dresses hung up in public places in communities across Canada, has evolved to red ribbons and other red items being added to the landscape.  
                                           
While Red Dress day is officially Sunday,  May 5th, Northern Health Region elders and Knowledge Keepers invite staff and patients to join them in a day of solidarity next Wednesday in Thompson.

The event will include a pipe ceremony, smudge, feast and the making of Red Dress pins to honor the women who are missing or murdered.

It takes place from 1 to 3 pm in the Ceremonial Room - Old Chapel room on the second floor at the Thompson General Hospital.

For decades, Manitobans have benefited from the collective health and well-being that vaccinations offer. Routine immunizations save the lives of thousands of Canadians each year, a fact borne out by decades of evidence and data collection.

But beyond their life-saving capacity, vaccines keep us healthy in all of life’s stages. Children can attend school, participate in recreational activities and socialize with their friends without parents having to worry about them catching a vaccine-preventable disease. Vaccines keep adults healthy, so we’re able to earn a living and support our families with fewer interruptions due to serious illness. Seniors can live active, healthy and longer lives because vaccines keep illness at bay.

We’ve witnessed measles outbreaks not just in our country, but also in the United States and globally. Measles, a highly contagious disease, can lead to severe complications including brain infection. However, these outbreaks are preventable. Each one of us plays a crucial role in safeguarding ourselves and our community against measles through vaccination. Two doses of the measles vaccine are nearly 100 per cent effective against a measles infection, underscoring the power of collective action.

It’s National Immunization Awareness Week, a good reminder to catch up on any vaccines you or your loved ones might have missed. We know the pandemic interrupted access to vaccines, but we can get back on track. Be sure to also take the time to update your immunization records – especially if you’ve received vaccines in other provinces or countries.

This week is also a time to consider how easy or difficult it is for Manitobans of all backgrounds, means and locations to get vaccinated. Families and individuals who face barriers to accessing primary care services are at risk of worse health outcomes including complications and severe outcomes due to disease. Addressing health inequities is an important part of our work in public health and we are grateful to the many partners, community leaders, governments and other stakeholders who work to address systemic racism and inequality that affect access to immunization and other health care.

Protect yourself and those you love by getting vaccinated. Know your vaccine history, update your vaccine records and request your vaccine record to have on hand. If you have questions about vaccinations, talk to your health-care provider.

Records can be requested and updated online at www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/cdc/div/records.html, through your local public health office or your health-care provider.

Surgical capacity for spinal patients is being increased and a new provincial spine program is being established to ensure Manitobans requiring acute spinal care are treated sooner, Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced today.

“Manitobans should not have to suffer from debilitating spinal pain. It can completely disrupt every aspect of a person’s life,” said Asagwara. “The creation of a new provincial spine program will reduce wait times for both patients awaiting consultation and those needing surgery, ensuring Manitobans receive treatment more quickly so they can resume their lives.”

The Manitoba government is investing more than $12 million toward the establishment of a new provincial spine program that will reduce long wait times for patient consultations with spinal surgeons, establish centralized wait lists and co-ordinate complex levels of care across a multitude of care providers, diagnostic imaging and operative resources throughout the province, the minister noted.

Operating slates devoted to spinal procedures will increase by more than 50 per cent starting May 1, the minister said, adding all sites, including Concordia Hospital, Brandon Regional Health Centre and Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg, will also benefit from new state-of-the-art, minimally invasive surgical equipment that improves patient outcomes.

Three spinal surgeons have been recruited to Manitoba over the past 10 months – two in Winnipeg and one in Brandon. The minister noted they have been trained on the new surgical equipment and will maximize the use of these new slates, building surgical capacity in Manitoba.

This important advancement in care is also supported by donors to the HSC Foundation’s Operation Excellence fundraising campaign.

“This expansion in spine surgery is another example of what is possible when the government, medical leaders, the HSC Foundation and its donors collaborate for the benefit of all Manitobans,” said Jonathon Lyon, president and CEO, Health Sciences Centre Foundation. “I am pleased this progress in spine care will mean better surgical outcomes for Manitobans. It’s notable that new surgeons have been attracted here by the steps we are taking through Operation Excellence and in partnership with all stakeholders. Surgeons and other health care professionals want to go where they can do their best work.”

The Provincial Spine Assessment Clinic, which is staffed by physiotherapists in partnership with surgeons, will be incorporated into the new provincial spine clinic. This clinic has succeeded in lowering wait times for patients requiring assessment and treatment and will now be fully integrated with the surgeons in the same clinic, the minister said. ACCESS centres will also provide additional imaging technology.

“The establishment of a comprehensive provincial spine program will make it easier for patients and referring primary care providers to access spinal care,” said Dr. Ed Buchel, Shared Health’s provincial surgical lead and HSC’s surgical site director. “The spine care team will now have the central intake and improved data analytics to manage wait lists and optimize the use of the increased and enhanced capacity. More surgeons, in co-ordinated clinics, will deliver more surgery with cutting edge technology.”

Joseph Fourre is determined to take a family tragedy and use it to inform the public that recreational drug use is not safe.

After his son, Harlan, died last year of fentanyl poisoning from tainted drugs, Fourre launched the Singing Red Bear Foundation.

Its slogan is “No thanks.  I’m good, ”  -  one his son Harlan had used often before his untimely death.  

Fourre explains what the slogan means.

“”No thanks I’m good” is two-fold. First and foremost, No thanks: it’s non- judgemental and it’s a polite way to decline. I’m good, the second part of that statement, is empowering and I think that’s what my son was doing, you know? He was saying “No thanks, not judging you but no thanks, I’m good without that.””

Fourre says the Foundation has travelled to northern First Nations and to R.D. Parker Collegiate in Thompson to share the message.

He hopes that over time the campaign to warn young people about the dangers of recreational drugs will spread Canada-wide and ultimately result in fewer deaths due to drugs.

Hear as Fourre shares his and Harlan’s stories and learn more about Singing Red Bear.   Tune in to Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon.

On April 18, 2024, at approximately 8:05 pm, Gypsumville RCMP responded to a shooting at a business in Lake St. Martin First Nation.

Immediately officers and Emergency Medical Services responded and located an injured 34-year-old male. He was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

RCMP identified a suspect and he was arrested.

Memphis Beardy, 20, has been charged with:

•             Discharge Firearm with Intent

•             Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose

•             Possession of Firearm knowing Possession is Unauthorized

•             Disguised with Intent to Commit Offence

•             Possession of Restricted Firearm with Ammo Without Licence

•             Pointing a Firearm

•             Possession of Firearm/Ammunition in Motor Vehicle

•             Fail to Comply with Probation Order

•             Careless Use of Firearm

•             Weapon Possession contrary to order x2

•             Aggravated Assault

•             Using Firearm in the Commission of an Offence

Gypsumville RCMP continue to investigate.

On City Beat Thursday, Mayor Colleen Smook gave a recap of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities meetings in Brandon.

Smook said one session focussed on disaster financial assistance and how to help evacuees in the case of forest fires, while another addressed the dangers of fires in the north this year.

Another took a look at the benefits and drawbacks of having 911 service, which the city is looking at.

Here she talks about the City’s Caucus which she chairs and one of their main concerns.

“It was the cost of policing the level of service provided verses the expectation of what we want for services. You know, do we get our dollars worth, how can we plan around that and work with either the RCMP or private policing.”

In the RCMP report shared at the Committee of the Whole Meeting on Monday, calls for service in the city were down almost 8 per cent from January to March this year, compared to the same time frame last year.

Currently, the Thompson RCMP has a vacancy of  6 officers and 5 municipal clerks.