Nikan Awasisak Agency is hosting an open house this week.

The open house is free and open to the public, and provides an opportunity to community members who are interested in potentially being a foster parent or support worker.

Attendees will have a chance to meet Nikan staff, walk through the application process, and win some door prizes.

An alternative care worker for the agency, Jade Pierson, says there are currently 26 foster homes in Thompson with 29 children in care.

Nikan Awasisak Agency’s open house is this Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m.

Catch Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10 to learn more.

EDIT: The number of foster families and children in care was corrected to reflect the statistics for the City of Thompson.

The leaders of two northern Indigenous organizations have expressed frustrations with the region’s health care body.

A press release from MKO and Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin states they’ve received reports of incidents of mistreatment of First Nations people seeking health care recently.

This was brought to the attention of the Northern Health Region’s board in a meeting earlier this month.

KIM CEO Doctor Barry Lavallee says while the response from the board was supportive at first, he alleges there was laughter when one of the Chiefs in the delegation was recounting their experience about the death of a family member.

While both organizations expect that they will continue to work with the NHR, they state a new governance arrangement where First Nations take the lead is essential to real transformation in the north.

Lavallee adds he’s optimistic that there are those in the system who are happy to work with them towards changes the people need in the north, and is looking forward to making an announcement about the work to end anti-Indigenous racism in the northern health care system “very soon”.

Flying Nickel Mining has signed an agreement with Norway House Cree Nation to advance the development of the Minago Nickel Project.

Chief Larson Anderson says the Minago Project will provide the community with jobs, contract opportunities, and a direct financial contribution.

Anderson adds it will enable the First Nation to become more independent from government and create a future for the youth.

The Impact and Benefit Agreement confirms the framework for Flying Nickel and Norway House to work together during all stages of the Minago project in its traditional territory.

A local high school student received an award presented by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during a pep rally yesterday.

Isabelle Carter is one-of-two students in Manitoba to get the Samantha Mason Friendship Award this year.

RD Parker Collegiate Principal Bonnie Remple says she nominated Carter because of her volunteerism and uplifting fellow students.

Carter told Arctic Radio the award came as a total surprise to her and that she and her family were excited to meet a few of the athletes.

The Samantha Mason Friendship Award was established in honour of its 15-year-old namesake, who died by suicide in 2015 following years of bullying.

It’s awarded to young people who take action to eliminate bullying in their schools and communities.

With employers continuing to figuring out the balance between in-person, remote, and hybrid workplace post-COVID-19 lockdowns, a business consultation firm says flexibility may be the best route to take.

Mike Shekhtman, a senior regional manager with Robert Half says remote jobs are here to stay, citing 85 per cent of respondents of a recent study said they are interested in hybrid or fully remote positions.

He adds that being in the office still has its benefits, with two-thirds of professionals noting they have more effective relationships with colleagues whom they’ve met face-to-face versus those who have not.

Regardless of where people get their job done, Shekhtman says those who work where and when they are most productive are putting in more hours and have reported higher job satisfaction.

For the full interview with Shekhtman, listen to Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon.

If it seems too good to be true, it is.

That’s the main message for this year’s Fraud Prevention Month campaign.

Constable Sandy Deibert with the Thompson RCMP says the detachment received nearly 40 reports of fraud last year.

Here, she outlined some of major instances of fraud that were reported locally.

“These included calls involving a lost debit card that had been used and that happens not because someone had their pin but because the tap was enabled on their card so they were able to use up to one hundred dollars at a time without having a pin. Another complaint was that someone had met someone online and they were asked to send money so that person can come visit and then they, unfortunately, were out thousands of dollars before they realized that this was a scam. Another report involved someone looking to rent a house and wanted to check out the address and then found that the house wasn’t actually for rent.”

Deibert says signs of a scam include unsolicited emails or calls, urgency, threats, and emotional manipulation.

Visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s website for more information.

Or catch Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon.

The cause of the fire that broke out twice at the Burntwood Plaza yesterday is still under investigation.

The fire started twice early yesterday morning at the Northern Health Region Wellness Connection Centre, which spread to surrounding businesses along the strip mall.

Crews from the City of Thompson, Paint Lake, and Vale fire departments were on site most of yesterday extinguishing the fire.

Residents were advised to stay away from the immediate area, and the downtown and Juniper area in general, due to smoke.

Vale’s health and safety personnel were on site monitoring air quality.

The NHR says the Wellness Connection Centre will be temporarily relocated to the Thompson Clinic.

Clients of the centre needing to speak with a public health nurse can call 204-677-5350 for more information.

Residents are being told to avoid the area around Selkirk Avenue as the local fire department work to extinguish the blaze.

RCMP says they responded to the fire at the downtown storefront clinic at 15 Selkirk Avenue just before 2 a.m, and set up a perimeter around the area as Thompson Fire and EMS brought down the fire.

The fire started up again in the same location at around 5 a.m. and several business at the strip mall have since been engulfed in flames. The city's fire crews are attending to the building with three pumper trucks on site. Eye witness reports state the Vale fire department have arrived at the scene to assist as well.

The Northern Health Region recently opened the NHR Wellness Connection Clinic, which houses the STBBI and reproductive health programming under Public Health. It previously served as a COVID-19 and flu vaccine clinic over the course of the pandemic.

The health authority says all equipment and supplies have been destroyed and no injuries have been reported. It adds staff are in the process of relocating to the Thompson Clinic until a more permanent contingent space can be found.

The NHR states walk-in appointments for the Wellness Connection Centre will be available Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments are not required. Clients of the clinic needing to speak with a public health murse can call 204-677-5350 for more information.

Police say the fire doesn’t appear suspicious in nature and the Office of the Fire Commissioner was notified.

The city has closed Selkirk Avenue to traffic until the area is safe.

Two youths were arrested in Thompson after allegedly stealing a vehicle.

RCMP says the vehicle, which was left running in a driveway, was stolen Tuesday afternoon before 1.

While the vehicle was fleeing it got stuck in a snowbank at Waterloo Avenue and Brandon Crescent. A vehicle stopped to assist, and the stolen vehicle managed to get out of the snowbank and sideswiped the other vehicle. A passenger in the vehicle received minor injuries.

The detachment says they got a number of calls of an erratic driver since the theft was reported. They were also notified of a vehicle that was stuck on the shoulder of Highway 6 that matched the description of the one that was stolen, but it was able to get out and continued to drive erratically towards the city.

Police eventually found the vehicle stuck in the snow on Station Road, and two females were arrested without incident.
 

A twelve year-old girl is facing a numerous charges, which include:

- Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle causing Bodily Harm

- Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle

- Flight from Police

-Possession of Property Obtained by Crime

-Theft of Motor Vehicle

The other girl alleged to be involved could not be charged because she’s eleven-years-old.

A suspect has been arrested in connection to the death of a woman from a northern Manitoba First Nation.

Manitoba RCMP say officers in O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation have arrested 50-year-old Philip Soulier as a suspect in the homicide of 47-year-old Noreen Tait.

Soulier has been charged with manslaughter and remains in custody.

Tait died last month in Winnipeg after being transported there due to having life-threatening injuries caused by assault.

Chief Shirley Ducharme says Tait’s death is one of many “critical incidents” that have occurred on the First Nation.

OPCN declared a state of emergency this week, saying the community doesn’t have the adequate resources to address the mental health and addictions issues they’re contending with.

Both Ducharme and Tait’s family are urging all levels of government to provide resources such as nursing staff and a wellness centre to help address these issues.

Local authorities have arrested a man suspected to have succumbed to road rage in three separate occasions these past few weeks.

Between February 10^th and March 4^th, Thompson RCMP received reports of three separate people stating they were harassed by a driver on the road.

These incidents ranged from having coffee thrown at one of the victim’s vehicles, punching the passenger mirror on two of the victim’s cars, and yelling at both the drivers and pedestrians crossing the road.

The road rage suspect is also said to have assaulted one of the drivers.

The suspect was arrested at his home on Sunday and faces multiple charges, including three counts of uttering threats and mischief, as well as a count of assault and careless driving.

The Northern Health Region has appointed a new CEO.

The board has appointed Raj Sewda, a registered nurse who the NRHA say has served in leadership and managerial in Ontario and BC.

Sewda recently worked as a clinic partner providing support to long term care communities across the two provinces.

He succeeds outgoing CEO Helga Bryant, who remains in the position until the end of the month.

Bryant is to serve as University College of the North’s Dean of Health beginning in May.

Sewda will start his new position with the health authority April 1^st.

With the southbound lane on the Miles Hart Bridge now closed for reconstruction, Mayor Colleen Smook recommends motorists driving through the construction zone to add a few more minutes to their commute.

Smook says with the temporary traffic lights, the average wait time is nearly four minutes.

She explains that wait can be longer with higher traffic volumes, such as when going to or from the airport.

The lane is expected to be closed until November 15^th, and the entire project is anticipated to be completed by fall 2024.

With the final sitting of the Legislature before the fall provincial election beginning this week, Thompson’s MLA says the governing PCs are in -quote- “damage control mode”.

Eric Redhead says the Manitoba NDP will hold Premier Heather Stefanson to account, citing the closure of birthing services in some communities and the privatization of Lifeflight as examples of cuts made to northern health care.

A press release from the party says staffing health care facilities in the region is something they’re calling on the government to do, saying the Thompson General Hospital is seeing nurse vacancy rates are as high as 25 per cent and personal care homes lack adequate staff for seniors.

This comes as the PCs are set to unveil their upcoming fiscal budget this spring.

On March 1, 2023, at approximately 8:00 am, Island Lake RCMP responded to a report of two female youths found outside a residence on St. Theresa Point First Nation.

The two females, both 14-years-of-age, were taken to the nursing station where they were pronounced deceased.

It is believed the two youths were outside for a period of time. The temperature was approximately -23 degree Celsius overnight in the community.

Autopsies will be conducted and Island Lake RCMP continue to investigate.

On February 28, 2023, at approximately 3:50 pm, Cross Lake RCMP executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act warrant at a residence in Pimicikamak Cree Nation. Upon entering the residence, police located three young children, aged two, three, and four, as well as five adult females, four adult males, and a 17-year-old male youth.

Officers arrested the four adult males and the female homeowner. All others were identified and released at the scene.

A search of the residence revealed a large amount of Canadian currency, cell phones, approximately 200 grams of cocaine, numerous individually wrapped cracked cocaine packets, a quantity of pills, and a black BB handgun. Assorted drug paraphernalia, such as scales, packing supplies, and a grinder were also located inside the residence.

Kiebron Misgna Issak, 23, of Winnipeg, and Melissa Megan Muskego, 37, of Pimicikamak Cree Nation, are both charged with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, and Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose.

Filmon Hagos Woldemariam, 21, of Winnipeg, is charged with Possession for Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose, and Fail to Comply with Undertaking Condition – not to possess or consume any drugs.

Yonas Bokretsion Kidane, 32, of Winnipeg, is charged with Possession for Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Proceeds of Crime, Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose, and Disobeying Lawful Order.

Eseyas Rezene, 33, of Winnipeg, is charged with Possession for Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Proceeds of Crime, Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose, and Fail to Comply with Probation Order.

“What we are seeing here is four individuals who have absolutely no ties or affiliation with the community coming here and selling drugs,” said Cross Lake RCMP Detachment Commander Jon Greer. “We remain completely committed to combatting the drug trade as it has been shown time and time again that those who produce and traffic illicit drugs destroy lives, homes, and communities. The RCMP continues to work with Pimicikamak Cree Nation to ensure that doesn’t happen here.”

The five arrested individuals remain in custody.

The investigation continues with the assistance of the North District Crime Reduction Enforcement Support Team (CREST).

Families looking for something to do after school tomorrow may want to check out an event being held at the TRCC.

The LINK and the Thompson Crisis Centre are hosting “Families Having Fun Together”, which runs from 5 to 8 p.m.

Organizer Mary Demare explains the purpose for the event.

“The event is to bring people together and to have fun and that’s why everything is free because sometimes we’re not able to get out and do things with our families.”

Learn more this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10 on Thompson Today.

Thompson Rural RCMP is investigating an alleged assault that took place last weekend.

On Saturday morning, police responded to a report of an assault that allegedly occurred at a housing complex in Tataskweyak Cree Nation.

Officers arrived and learned the assault had actually taken place Friday morning when the victim was involved in an altercation with another man.

The 45-year-old male victim had returned to his room where he was later found the following morning requiring medical treatment.

He was taken to the nursing station and was later transported to Winnipeg with life-threatening injuries where he remains in critical condition.

42-year-old Darwin Beardy was arrested on Saturday and has been charged with aggravated assault.

O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation is urging immediate support from all levels of government following the death of one of its community members, which is being investigated as a homicide.

Arla Tait-Linklater told a news conference on Monday that her sister, Noreen Tait, was violently assaulted in the community, also known as South Indian Lake, on February 19^th.

She succumbed to her injuries a few days later.

OPCN Chief Shirley Ducharme expressed her frustration during the conference, saying the First Nation is in crisis and is contending with an increase in violence, med-evacs, and mental health issues and addictions issues.

Ducharme adds the impact of the Churchill river diversion license is attributing to the current state of the community.

Tait-Linklater and Ducharme called on the government to provide more resources, including more nursing staff at the nursing station and a wellness centre to address mental health and addictions issues.

Thompsonites have until the end of this week to commemorate a woman or girl in their life that inspires them.

The YWCA Thompson holds its annual She Inspires Me campaign as a way to celebrate local women and girls in honour of International Women’s Day on March 8th.

Residents have until Friday to get their message in, which will be delivered along with a gift to the recipient the following Wednesday.

To learn more, call 204-778-1209 or message the YWCA Thompson Facebook page.

A Health and Wellness Mini Fair will also be held on March 8^th at the TRCC multi-purpose room from 6 to 9 p.m.

The full interview can be heard this afternoon on Thompson Today.

With Shaw Spotlight’s annual Build Frosty contest coming to a close soon, Thompson residents are encouraged to vote for our local Frosty.

Shaw Spotlight Thompson has partnered up with the local humane society this year, and made a Frosty out of canned pet food.

The top three vote getters in the contest will get a free promotion to spread awareness about their cause.

Voting runs until tomorrow. Visit the Shaw Spotlight website to learn more.

Hear the full interview about Shaw Spotlight’s Build Frosty contest this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

Update – Tia Osborne has been safely located.

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

On February 20, 2023, RCMP received a report of a missing 15-year-old female from Thompson.

Tia Osborne was last seen on February 19, 2023, at approximately 6:00 pm on Westwood Drive, in Thompson.

Police believe she is with acquaintances in the Thompson area.

Tia has a slim build, long black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a grey parka, black jogging pants and white mukluks.

Police are concerned for her well-being. If you have information on her whereabouts please call Thompson RCMP at 204-677-6909, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

Nelson House RCMP was able to find three men stranded out on the ice last weekend.

On Saturday afternoon, the detachment was notified that the trio was stranded out on the ice as they intended to walk to a camp near Threepoint Lake, south of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation.

The men were walking towards the camp when they realized that they wouldn’t be able to make the return trip due to the cold. The temperatures that afternoon fell between the minus 30 to minus 35 range.

Two officers from Nelson House each set out on a snowmobile and found the three men, with two of them said to have not been wearing proper winter attire for extreme cold.

They were rescued and taken to the nursing station for examination, and one of the men was taken to Thompson Hospital for treatment and has since been released.

Winterfest is finally here!

It begins at noon with judging for the snow sculpture contest.

Over the course of the weekend, there will also be pickleball, a bonfire round dance, a pancake breakfast, and a number of contests.

Mayor Colleen Smook will also be giving greetings at the opening ceremony at 6:30 this evening, which will then be capped off by a fireworks display.

Winterfest is taking place at the TRCC.

Visit the Thompson Winterfest website for the full schedule.

A program focussing on harm reduction is being offered through the local YWCA.

The Locker Project provides access to free drug supplies anonymously to those who are using.

Similar programs in other jurisdictions have been shown to be successful in lowering the risk of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections through sharing drug use equipment.

The Locker Project, which the YWCA has been working to bring to the community since last summer, currently has capacity for up to 18 people.

It’s offered in partnership with the Northern Health Region.

Hear the full interview about the Locker Project at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon on Thompson Today.