Here’s your chance to play baseball with some Winnipeg Goldeyes players.

Children ages 5 to 12 are encouraged to join BGC Thompson for a baseball workshop.

Mackayla Paziuk, After School Manager at BGC Thompson explains how this opportunity came about.

“The general manager of the Winnipeg Goldeyes Baseball club reached out to BGC Thompson to hold a free baseball camp for 100 kids ages 5 to 12. They are bringing Goldeye players and Baseball Manitoba instructors to run the camp.

The workshop takes place at the Red Sangster field from 1:15 to 3:45 this Friday.  In case of rain, it will be held at the C.A. Nesbitt Arena.

If your child is interested in taking part in this free camp, email afterschool@bgc Thompson.ca for a registration form. 

Today, 34 members of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakinak make up part a group of northern honorees who will receive their Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medals here in Thompson.

Lieutenant Governor Anita Neville, Premier Heather Stefanson and Thompson MLA Eric Redhead will be on hand at the Ma Mow We Tak Friendship Centre for this special presentation.

This medal celebrates the 70^th anniversary year of Queen Elizabeth the Second’s accession to the throne and is awarded to Manitobans who have devoted themselves to the betterment of their communities, province, or country.

Recipients will receive a circular medal suspended from a blue, red and white ribbon, along with a certificate. 

Throughout the anniversary year, one-thousand Manitobans will be honoured with the medal.

The Sidney Project is a local initiative aimed at collecting new, brand-named shoes for students in Shamattawa First Nation.

Founder Carla Antichow says she got the idea after purchasing shoes for herself and thinking about ways to give back to the community, which is where her son is from.

Antichow says she’s already received donations of shoes and money for the initiative.

Here, Antichow shares how Thompsonites can reach her if they’d like to donate to the cause.

“They can call or text me, my number is 204-939-0843, or they can email thesidneyproject@yahoo.com. There is a Facebook page as well.”

Hear the full interview with Antichow on Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon.

Road improvements are coming to Thompson this summer.

Mayor Colleen Smook shared some details about what will be happening.

“Depending on which area, some of the areas they are going to do what they call mill and fill. They will take off the top three to six inches of material and then relay it but if the bed under it isn’t good then it will take more intense work.”

Elk Bay, Martin Bay, Fox Bay, Wolf Street and Coral Crescent are among the roads receiving some upgrades.

And the work on Deerwood Drive and Juniper Drive is slated to wrap up this summer. 

Driveways, sidewalks and lawns torn up as part of the water main renewal project will be repaired and street paving will follow.

The RD Parker Collegiate Cabaret is the first of a few concerts the school’s music program is hosting this month.

It will be tonight at 7 p.m. at the Letkemann Theatre.

Kevin Lewis, the band director at the high school, talks about the other performances happening this month.

“We’re going to have our year end junior concert on June 13^th, which is a Tuesday night, at 7:00pm at the Letkemann Theatre. It’s going to feature our junior high students and our junior students here at RD Parker so grades 6 through 9. That’s going to have our choirs, our bands and our junior high jazz ensemble. The date is not firmly set but we are working on a jazz concert that’s going to take place at one of the local restaurants later in June and then finally, we’ve got a performance at our RD Parker graduation on June 29th, which is a Thursday night at 7pm in the Nesbitt Arena. So there are lots of performances for our kids here in the month of June.”

For the full interview, tune in to Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon.

Now’s the time when many outdoor enthusiasts take to the trails on their ORVs and ATVs.

And while they can be lots of fun, they come with rules and responsibilities.

Gary Hora, the President of ATV Manitoba has advice for parents when it comes to young drivers.

“An adult should supervise youth if they are driving until they get comfortable and more experienced with operating the machine. This way, there aren’t any incidents. Unfortunately we have a lot of accidents with the youths and primarily it’s because they don’t get the training to operate the vehicle.”

Hora also advises that riders of all ages check the rules for riding on crown land and municipal land in their area, to make certain they are properly licenced, and to observe the rules of the road.

For the full interview with Hora and more information about ATV Manitoba, listen to Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10 pm.

On May 31, 2023, at approximately 7:45 pm, Thompson Rural RCMP received a report of a deceased five-year-old female in Brochet. This community is a fly-in community, and officers were able to be on the ground at approximately 3:30 am.

Investigation has determined that the child had wandered away from her residence. When her family went to look for her, she was located in the lake near her home. The child was rushed to the Nursing Station, where she was pronounced deceased.

The investigation continues.

The Manitoba NDP has nominated three candidates to run again in the upcoming provincial election.

Eric Redhead was nominated in Thompson on Saturday.  He is the MLA for the constituency since winning the by-election in June 2022 and is currently the Critic for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation.

On Sunday, Flin Flon MLA Tom Lindsey was given the nod again to represent the NDP.

As the NDP Critic for Labour, Lindsey is a strong advocate for better safety on Northern roads and has introduced a bill to hold the government accountable for regular maintenance and snow removal.  

And yesterday in The Pas, NDP MLA Amanda Lathlin received her nomination.

Lathlin was the first First Nations woman election to the Manitoba Legislature when she first won her seat in 2015.

She has introduced bills to give parents 3 days of paid bereavement leave after a miscarriage or stillbirth,  and help young victims of sexual assault access health care in their home communities, so they don’t have to travel to Winnipeg.  

The provincial election is slated for October 3rd.

YWCA Thompson’s Walk a Mile in Her Shoes campaign is underway.

The campaign encourages men to wear red heels, take a photo, and send it to the YWCA as a way to spread awareness about gender-based violence.

Participants are also asked to collect pledges, which will be used to fund programming at the YWCA.

There will be a public event to commemorate Walk a Mile in Her Shoes on June 17^th, which will include activities, a barbeque, and a walk beginning at the YWCA building.

Learn more about Walk a Mile in Her Shoes this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10 on Thompson Today.

A Roman Catholic priest has been arrested in connection with the sexual assault of an eight-year-old girl in Little Grand Rapids First Nation,  according to Manitoba RCMP.

Arul Savari, 48, is charged with sexual assault, sexual interference, sexual exploitation of a young person, luring a child and forcible confinement. He remains in custody.

RCMP said the girl was alone with the priest at the local church when he allegedly touched her inappropriately and wouldn’t let her leave.

When the girl was able to leave, she ran home and told her mom, who reported the incident to police.

Savari has also attended the community of Pauingassi First Nation in his role as priest.

Since his arrest, additional youths have been identified as potential victims.

If anyone has any information or is a victim, please contact Little Grand Rapids RCMP at 204-397-2249.

In Winnipeg on Monday, Ahmed Hussen Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion announced an investment of $13.3 million that will fund 78 new homes for Indigenous people across Manitoba.

The funds came through the Rapid Housing Initiative Project Stream.

The new homes are part of 5 separate projects across northern Manitoba.

They include15 homes for Lynn Lake, 2 homes for Nelson House, 50 new homes in Opaskwayak Cree Nation, 6 new homes in Oxford House, and 5 homes for Wasagamack.

The Rapid Housing Initiative provides capital contributions to quickly create new permanent affordable housing units that support people who are vulnerable and prioritized under the National Housing Strategy.

As Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month comes to a close, Arctic Radio spoke to the Save Your Skin Foundation about the importance of being sun-smart this summer.

Organization founder Kathleen Barnard, who is a skin cancer survivor, says one third of all new cancer cases in the country are skin cancers and is increasingly being found in younger people.

“Melanoma is the seventh most common cancer in Canada and the fourth most common in young people between the ages of fifteen and twenty nine. When I was diagnosed, I was forty seven and my uncle said “Boy, you are really young for this type of cancer.” Yet, now it figures in that the demographic of people that are coming to us are under the age of thirty five, which is frightening.”

Barnard says the major risk factor for melanoma and other skin cancers are UV rays, which damages the DNA of skin cells.

She recommends using sunscreen, limiting time in the sun, checking UV Index forecasts, and avoiding tanning equipment.

For more information, listen to the two-part interview today and tomorrow at 12:40 and 5:10 on Thompson Today.

Team Vale took home first place at the 60th Manitoba Provincial Mine Rescue Competition held last Friday and Saturday in Snow Lake.

Vale's winning team members include Coach Kelly Edwards, Captain Sean McKenzie, Mat Herman, Rob Chuipka, Ricki Stabback, Martin Murphy,  and Al Szabo.

They were followed closely by the Manitoba Mutual Aid Team which included two Vale employees - Kelly Kopeechuk and Terry Ferguson - along with two Snow Lake and two Tanco employees.  

The Technician’s award went to Sean McKenzie from Vale.  The Tactical Skills event was won by the Blue Team and the written exam was also won by Vale.  The First Aid Award went to HudBay Snow Lake and Tanco took the Firefighting event.

In 2024, the competition will be hosted by Tantalum Mining Corporation  in Bernic Lake.

The City of Thompson is reviewing responses to a request for tenders for the construction of a new aquatic centre this week.

The deadline for submissions was May 26 and the review process began May 29. The first step is determining if the proposals satisfy technical requirements. If they do, city staff and Stantec Architecture, which is overseeing design and engineering services for the project, will interview the proponents in Winnipeg.

After the technical evaluations and interviews are completed, budgets for the proposals will be compared and final scores calculated prior to any recommendation being forwarded to council.

Thompson has secured $11 million in funding for the new aquatic centre from the federal and provincial governments via the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, which requires a contribution of at least $4 million from the city. Vale Manitoba Operations has also pledged $2 million for a new city facility to replace the Norplex Pool, closed down for safety reasons in
2019.

Stantec’s design and engineering study recommended that the new aquatic centre should be built on land adjacent to the Thompson Regional Community Centre. Features of the pool design include a waterslide, a six-lane 25-metre accessible pool with one accessible lane, a beach-entry recreational pool, a sauna and a multi-purpose room for parties and swim meets.

Media Contact:
Ian Graham
Communications Officer
City of Thompson
Tel: 204-677-7929
Email: igraham@thompson.ca

Treaty 5 and Métis territory, Thompson MB —

Today the Manitoba NDP nominated Thompson MLA Eric Redhead to run again in the upcoming provincial election. Redhead has served as the MLA since winning the by-election in June 2022.

“Thompson families want a government that will fix Northern health care and make their lives better,” said Redhead. “But all they’ve got with Premier Stefanson is empty promises and more cuts. Where’s the Thompson pool she’s promised? How could she let our major hospital go without hot water for an entire month?

If we have the opportunity to form government, our NDP team won’t abandon Northern families. We'll fix health care and make sure they have more services and an affordable life.”

Redhead has served as the MLA since winning the by-election in June 2022. He’s raised the alarm about the dire conditions and staffing shortages at the Thompson hospital and he’s amplified the voices of community members calling on the PCs to reverse their cut to the Thompson footcare clinic. As the Critic for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation, Redhead has held the government to account for their refusal to make Orange Shirt Day a statutory holiday and most recently for appointing a residential school denier to the master’s appointment committee for the Court of Kings Bench.

“Eric is a strong advocate for Northern families,” said Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew. “He’s a dad who knows what it’s like to raise a family in Northern Manitoba – and he won’t stop fighting to make life better for Northern families. Our team is committed to fixing health care, making life more affordable and providing better opportunities and jobs for Northern families.”

On May 23, 2023, at approximately 10:20 pm, RCMP responded to an assault at a residence on Brandon Crescent in Thompson.

Upon arrival officers located an injured 21-year-old male. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The investigation determined that earlier that evening, a male suspect armed with a baseball bat, broke into the residence, assaulted the victim and fled the scene.  Officers identified the male and he was arrested without incident.

Jeremiah Lethbridge, 27, of Thompson has been charged with Aggravated Assault, Break and Enter with Intent and Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose. He was remanded into custody.

Thompson RCMP continue to investigate.

On May 22, 2023, as a result of an ongoing investigation into the theft of a firearm, Oxford House RCMP conducted a search of a residence in the community and recovered several firearms, one of which had been reported stolen on April 26.

The search of the home led to the arrest of two males and the recovery of three firearms, a pellet gun and several rounds of ammunition.

As a result of this investigation, Charles William Sinclair, 33, was remanded into custody on numerous firearms-related offences. The second suspect, a 24-year-old male, was later released for court scheduled August 11, 2023, in Oxford House where he will also face numerous firearms-related offences.

Oxford House RCMP continue to investigate.

Photo attached.

Cross Lake evacuees have gotten the official word that they can return home.

Thompson Mayor Colleen Smook told Arctic Radio about the update just before noon today.

Residents of the First Nation where evacuated to Thompson earlier this morning due to a nearby wildfire in the area.

The Canadian Red Cross and the City of Thompson worked with Cross Lake leadership and law enforcement during the evacuation.

The city has said the evacuation would impact operations at City Hall and the TRCC.

The City of Thompson has suspended some of its operations today as it assists evacuees from Cross Lake.

Residents of the First Nation had to be evacuated due to a wildfire near the community.

City Hall is closed to the public as staff has been redeployed for emergency and social services response.

The city got word of the evacuation last night at around 11:30 a.m, with the first evacuees arriving approximately 3:30 a.m. this morning. City officials were told to expect between a dozen and 7, 000 people.

Additionally, the TRCC is closed as it’s serving as accommodations for evacuees, with more than 1, 000 Cross Lake residents sheltering at the community centre as of 8 a.m. this morning. Evacuees are also being housed in local hotels.

The city says the TRCC is expected to remain closed for normal activities until the evacuation ends and displaced residents are able to return home.

City Hall may also be closed beyond today if staff is required for emergency response operations.

The Manitoba Mine Rescue Competition is taking place this week in Snow Lake.

Manitoba Association of Mining vice-president Richard Trudeau says the theme for this year is “Confidence and Courage”.

The competition categories will consist of a written exam, a bench test, firefighting, first aid, practical skills, and the underground mine rescue.

Teams competing include Vale from Thompson, Tantalum Mining from Lac du Bonnet, and Hudbay Minerals from the host community. There will also be a fourth team called the Mutual Aid Team that consists of members from the three mine rescue stations in Manitoba.

The 60^th Mine Rescue Competition is taking May 25-26.

Details about this year’s mine rescue competition can be heard on Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon.

The 47^th Northern Juried Art Show will be held next month in Thompson.

It will run from June 19^th to the 24^th, with this year’s theme being “culture”.

Artists interested in taking part in the show must complete a registration form for each piece they’re submitting, which have to be in by June 2^nd.

The categories people can submit for include painting, watercolour, drawing and printmaking, crafts, fiber art, sculpture, and photography. There are separate youth categories for those ages 6-12 and 13-17, however young artists can also submit their pieces in the adult categories instead.

For more on the Northern Juried Art Show, catch Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon. Or visit mallofthearts.com.

The Manitoba North District RCMP has provided ten thousand dollars to University College of the North’s Ininiwi Kiskinwakewin  (IK) Centre.

The funding was secured through the province’s Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund.

UCN says the money will be used for this year’s Traditional Convocation Pow-wow, as well as the cost of food, gifts, and honoraria for components such as Elder teachings and a drum group.

The institution’s cultural coordinator Karl Laubmann says UCN is grateful to receive the funding, as it will go a long way in providing ongoing support in promoting Indigenous cultural programming at the school.

Safe Boating Awareness Week kicks off during the May long weekend, and Arctic Radio spoke to Lifesaving Society Manitoba about this year’s campaign.

WaterSmart and Safety Coordinator Dr. Christopher Love says 30 to 40 per cent of drowning deaths in Manitoba are boating related.

He explains the five points boaters should remember.

"Number one is wear your life jacket.   Make sure you're boating sober.  Make sure you take a boating course so you know how to operate your boat.  Be prepared, both you and your vessel.    So, you've taken a boating course, you know the rules.   Do you have all the appropriate safety equipment on board?   Have you prepped your boat for the season?  Make sure that any repairs that need to be done are completed.    And then, be aware of the risks of cold-water immersion."

Love explains while the province may be experiencing warmer air temperatures during the season, the water temperature tends to remain on the cold side even during the heat of summer.

Love says they have boat safety tips available on their website in a variety of languages.

"We've got 33 different languages on our website.   If English or French are not your best languages, we hopefully have another one on that list that you're going to be able to find that is useful to you.

We have some indigenous languages on there.  We've got a lot of the other standard ones you'd find in the province of Manitoba.

Things like Tagalog, German, etc.  so that they're there.  So if you go to LIfesaving.mb.ca and there's a menu on our website called Water Smart Public Education."

Learn more about Safe Boating Week on Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10.

The Thompson Junior Soccer Association is hosting their kick-off event for the 2023 season later today.

It will be at the TRCC gym from 5:45 to 8:30.

This year, the age divisions are the U-6 McNuggets, the U-9 Small Fries, the U-12 Golden Arches, and the U-18 Senior division.

The season is expected to start early June.

Thompsonites interested in coaching this year can reach out to the soccer association on their Facebook page for more information.

Manitoba’s police watchdog has determined that the death of a man in police presence in Tadoule Lake was not caused by an officer.

In January of last year, RCMP says they responded to a report of multiple assaults in the community and a man with a firearm.

The man suspected to be the subject of the police reports sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound while officers were on scene.

The man was taken to the nursing station by RCMP, where he was pronounced dead.

The Independent Investigation Unit says they interviewed four witness officers and three civilian witnesses, in addition to reviewing material such as call history, photos of scene and exhibits, and autopsy and toxicology reports.