Thompson Local News

Norway House RCMP traffic stop leads to seizure of Ecstasy

A man from Kinosao Sipi Cree Nation is facing charges after a traffic stop by Norway House RCMP on Sunday afternoon.

They stopped a vehicle on Highway 373 and found a 21-year-old woman without a valid driver’s licence driving an unregistered vehicle.

A 20-year-old male passenger had an outstanding arrest warrant and was also found breaching conditions of a recent Release Order.

He was placed under arrest and a search of the vehicle located a small backpack under his seat containing a large quantity of pills, believed to be Ecstasy, and over $2500 in cash.

Dustin Chubb, 20, was remanded into custody on charges including Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime and Fail to Comply with Release Order.

Norway House RCMP continue to investigate.

CEBA loan deadline for small businesses across Canada is tomorrow

Tomorrow, there’s a deadline for around 50-thousand businesses who took advantage of the Canadian Emergency Business Account or CEBA loan during the pandemic.

It’s their last day to qualify for a special extension the federal government allowed for them to refinance their loan to qualify for the forgivable portion of the CEBA loan.

Brianna Solberg, Director of Legislative Affairs for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business has more.

“Roughly 700 businesses are still trying to refinance on time to qualify for that forgiveness and unfortunately 1400 small businesses missed the repayment deadline and therefore lost that $20,000 forgivable portion.”

Two-hundred thousand small businesses, or 23 per cent, were forced to take on new debt to refinance their CEBA loans.

Dan Kelly, CFIB President, said many businesses that had to borrow to repay their loans are facing high interest rates in a business environment that is far from being back to normal.

To hear more about the CEBA loan deadlines, catch Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10.

Thompson RCMP make arrest after stabbing and forcible confinement


A 29-year-old man has been charged with Aggravated Assault, forcible confinement, and robbery after an incident in Thompson.

Early last Friday morning, Thompson RCMP received a report of a disturbance at an apartment building on Copper Road.

Officers arrived and found a 22-year-old man suffering from multiple stab wounds.  They provided life-saving first aid to him until Emergency medical services arrived.

He was transported to Thompson General Hospital in critical condition and remains there.

Samuel Miles, from Kinosao Sipi Cree Nation, had been staying with the victim when Miles held him against his will and robbed him. Miles then stabbed the victim multiple times before fleeing the scene.

Miles was located later that morning at a residence in Thompson.    He remains in custody.

NDP Niki Ashton calls for extended funding for residential school searches beyond 2025

On Thursday, NDP deputy critic for Indigenous Services Niki Ashton, called for the federal government to extend funding for searches at residential school sites beyond 2025.

Ashton had this to say about the situation.

“Communities have located evidence of more than 2,300 children in suspected unmarked graves at or near former residential schools and Indian hospitals. Communities need answers, they need to be able to bring their children home. Unfortunately, Canada’s response has been less then acceptable.”

Pimicikamak Chief David Monias, along with Dene National Chief Gerald Antoine, encouraged the federal government to fund the International Commission on Missing Persons beyond the present two-million dollars.

ICMP presented an interim report last week that covers the work done so far and suggests next steps.

Antoine said residential schools amounted to genocide and a crime, and that families deserve justice.

Thompson General Hospital opens new Community Care Clinic today

Today, the Northern Health Region opens its new Community Care Clinic at the Thompson General Hospital.

The clinic,  located in Room M-170 on the main floor of the Hospital, will operate 7 days a week from 7:15 am to 7:30 pm.

It will be staffed by two nurses and a nurse practitioner.

The NHR created the clinic in order to take the pressure off the Emergency Room and to help patients avoid long wait times in the ER.

Patients to the new clinic will have to be referred there by their healthcare provider.

Services provided by the clinic will include I-V infusions, blood work, wound care and, in the future, cast care.

The clinic won’t provide primary care services or care for minor ailments.   Those can still be handled at the Thompson Clinic in the Thompson Plaza or by using Q-DOC.

48th Northern Juried Art Show in The Pas starts today

Northern artists are showcasing their talents this weekend in The Pas.

Today is the start of the 48th Northern Juried Art Show, which takes place in the gymnasium at the University College of the North.

Artists from around the north are showcasing their talents in a number of disciplines.  They include painting, watercolour, drawing and printmaking, fibre art, 3-dimensional art and photography.

There is also a separate category for youth ages 9 to 17.

Today’s hours are from 9 am to 8 pm.  Saturday the show will be open from 10 am to 3 pm and on Sunday from 1 to 3 pm.

There will be a silver collection at the door.

Update to Zoning By-law and Development Plan to cost 120-thousand dollars

Last June, the City of Thompson received 60-thousand dollars from the Building Sustainable Communities grant.

This money will be used toward the updating of the Zoning By-Law and Development Plan for the city.

Mayor Colleen Smook shares details about the project.

“The last time that Thompson’s district development plan was approved was 2012 and 2013 so it’s definitely in need of updating. This project will create two new documents incorporating amendments that have been made and been making over the last few years.”

The project, which is estimated to take between 10 to 12 months to complete, will cost 120-thousand dollars in total.

It must be wrapped up by March 31st, 2025, or the province’s money will have to be returned.

At Monday’s Committee of the Whole Meeting, it was recommended that the city approve the city’s portion of 60-thousand dollars to come from the General Reserve account in order to get the project underway.

Grand Rapids RCMP seize drugs and cash during search

On March 19, 2024, as a result of an ongoing investigation, officers from the Grand Rapids RCMP Detachment executed a search warrant at a residence, located on River Road, in Misipawistik Cree Nation.

Upon entry into the home, officers arrested two suspects who were taken into police custody.

As a result of the search, officers seized over 140 grams of cocaine, crack cocaine, illicit pills, cash and drug related paraphernalia.

RCMP have charged Vernon Lee Turner, 42, from Misipawistik Cree Nation, with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime and Disobeying Order of Court. He was remanded into custody.

A 38-year-old female, from Misipawistik Cree Nation, was later released from custody without charge.

The Manitoba RCMP is committed to working with First Nation communities that have asked to make drug enforcement a priority.  These enforcement actions will continue as per the expressed wishes of community leadership.

The investigation continues.

Northern Health Region holds pipe ceremony and feast to celebrate Spring Equinox at Thompson General Hospital tomorrow

This week, many of us were excited to celebrate the change of seasons from winter to spring.

Here, Bruce Krentz, Health Promotion Director with the Northern Health Region shares some information about the spring equinox.

“Spring equinox, in the Indigenous culture, spring is a time of rebirth and renewal. The teaching of elders tells us that the Spring Equinox is the understanding of balance, it’s the teaching of a natural world in which we live. It helps to create and take care of us in a spiritual way.”

The Northern Health Region invites the community to a pipe ceremony, smudging and feast today at 1 pm in the Thompson Cultural Room at the Thompson General Hospital.

Elder Isabelle Morris will lead the event.

Norway House RCMP traffic stop leads to the seizure of firearms and drugs

On March 20, 2024, at approximately 1:00 am, Norway House RCMP conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle located on James Apetagon Drive in the community.

Officers approached the vehicle, with seven occupants, and spoke with the driver when a firearm was observed inside.

As the occupants were being placed under arrest for the possession of a weapon, four male suspects fled the scene on foot.

Two males (50, 25) and a female (49), all from Fairford, remained on scene and were taken into custody without incident.

The 25-year-old male was searched and found in the possession of a loaded handgun, later determined to have been stolen out of Atlanta, Georgia.

The rifle was found loaded with an extended 30 round magazine.

Officers also seized an undisclosed quantity of crack cocaine with an approximate street value of $35,000 in the community.

The three accused remain in police custody while efforts continue to locate the four additional suspects.

Norway House RCMP continue to investigate.

Thompson RCMP provides update on crime statistics and new developments within local detachment

At Monday night’s committee of the whole meeting, a report from the Thompson RCMP detachment was received.

It provided an update on crime statistics and new developments within the local detachment for February.

Last month, the detachment was short 8 constables and one staff sargeant, with two recruits expected over the next couple weeks.

The Crime Trend reporting showed that calls for thefts and break and enters each rose around 25 per cent.  Drug trafficking and possession rose 58 per cent.

However, mischief calls fell by almost 36 per cent, and sexual assaults fell by almost 58 per cent.
You can review the report at thompson.ca under the meeting agenda for March 18th.

Thompson RCMP Make Arrest in Homicide

A 29-year-old Thompson man has been charged with manslaughter and failure to comply with probation.

Thompson RCMP received a report of a death at a residence in Thompson.

Upon arrival at the scene, officers discovered a 31-year-old woman from Thompson dead, the victim of a homicide.

Major Crimes Services investigators assisted and arrested Vincent Bonner.

He remains in custody.

Thompson Kin Club's first March for Kindness collects 28 pairs of shoes and other donations

The Kin Club of Thompson held a March for Kindness this past Saturday.

Their goal was to collect shoes and socks for kids at the Thompson Crisis Centre and for the Sidney Project in Shamatawa, which collects footwear for kids in that community.

Kin Club President Shannon Johnston reported that 28 pairs of shoes were collected along with many pairs of socks and even some toques.

Each group received approximately 280 dollars.

The Kin Club thanks all who donated.   If you have some footwear or cash to donate, you can contact Johnston at 204-670-0470.

Children's Hospital Foundation announces Champion Child for 2024

The Children’s Hospital Foundation has announced its Champion Child for 2024.

She is 15-year-old Janessa Dumas Colomb from Mathias Colomb Cree Nation and she is the first First Nation Champion Child.

Andrew Ferris, Program Director with the Foundation shares the importance of the Champion Child Role.

“Every single year, we choose a child to act as an ambassador for the over 140 thousand kids that need our hospital every single year. They are individuals with incredibly resilient stories, they are brave and spirited and they share their story to our community and rally the community to support our cause.”

At age 6, Janessa was diagnosed with kidney failure and by age 12 had a kidney transplant at HSC Children’s Hospital.

She is dedicating this year to raise money to help the other children in the province who need the hospital’s services.

You can hear from Janessa on Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

Norway House RCMP execute search warrant and seize firearm

On Tuesday evening, as part of a weapons investigation, Norway House RCMP and the Emergency Response Team, executed a search warrant at a residence in the community.

One male was arrested and a modified firearm was seized.

Lawrence Moore, 36, of Norway House, is facing numerous weapons and firearms charges, aggravated assault, and uttering threats.

He was remanded into custody.

Norway House RCMP continue to investigate.

City of Thompson proactive in preparing against ransomware attacks

Earlier this week, Charles Finlay,  a Canadian cyber-security expert, said every municipality in the country should be prepared to respond to ransomware attacks.

When asked on City Beat yesterday if the City of Thompson is prepared for such an attack, Mayor Colleen Smook said the city has been proactive on this front.

She has more here.

“We use a company called Epic so we have been working over the last three years with them to make sure to upgrade our computer systems, deal with this ransomware as you say, so we’re in pretty good shape.”

Smook says she was at an Association of Manitoba Municipalities convention about three years ago, where it was reported that a southern town had allegedly been hacked and money had gone missing.

That provided an incentive to the City of Thompson and others to put protections into place to avoid a similar experience.

Social Work Month celebrates the many roles social workers have in a community

March is social work month, a time to learn about the many roles social workers have in our community.

As Bruce Krentz, Health Promotions Coordinator for the Northern Health Region shares, the role of social workers is very broad.

“Social workers are found in every facet of community life so including schools, hospitals, mental health clinics, senior centres, in elected office, private practices, prisons, corporations and public and private agencies.”   

Krentz says social workers wear many hats, advocating for clients and organizations, helping develop policy,  and doing research.

If you’re interested in a career in social work, the University of Manitoba Northern Social Work Program is still accepting applications for their fall session until April 15th.

Go to the Northern Social Work Program online for details and to apply.

The Pas RCMP lay charges after man stabbed and beaten

Late Tuesday evening,  The Pas RCMP received a report of a serious assault at a residence in Cormorant.

When police arrived on scene, the suspects had fled. A 42-year-old man was found with serious injuries resulting from a physical assault and stab wounds.

He was transported to local hospital and then to Winnipeg hospital.

Investigation determined that two men were involved in the attack, and officers were able to quickly locate them at a separate residence in the community.

Dayman Fenner, 19, from Opaskwayak and Braidon Fenner, 23, from Cormorant were arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault. Both were remanded in custody.

The victim remains in hospital in stable condition.

Thompson Kin Club's March for Kindness to take place this Saturday

March for Kindness this Saturday.

The March is being put on by the Thompson Kin Club in support of the Sidney Project for kids in Shamattawa and the Thompson Crisis Centre.

Shannon Johnston, President of the Thompson Kin Club tells us what they’re collecting.

“So we really would like to have brand new shoes of good quality and also, when you have new shoes, you need to have socks. So a package of new socks for that age group would be a great donation.”

Johnston says they’re collecting socks and shoes for school-age children so they can participate in school and recreational activities.

The March for Kindness starts at noon in front of R.D. Parker Collegiate and goes to the Giant Tiger Parking Lot.

If you can’t attend, donations can be made by calling Johnston at 204-679-0470.

Hear more about the March for Kindness on Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10 pm.

Gods Lake Narrows RCMP charge one youth, look for two others in arson investigation

On March 9, 2024, at approximately 8:10 pm, Gods Lake Narrows RCMP received a report of a house on fire behind the Band Office in Gods Lake Narrows. When officers arrived on scene, the house was completely engulfed. Nobody was believed to be in the building.

 

When the fire was out, the scene was contained and it was determined that the house had been empty when the fire broke out. Nobody was injured. It was also determined that three youths were seen in the vicinity of the house at the time the fire started.

 

RCMP patrolled the area and located a 16-year-old individual who was involved in setting the fire. They were taken into custody and charged with Arson and Obstruct Peace Officer.

 

Police continue to look for two other youth suspects. If you have information, please call Gods Lake Narrows RCMP at 204-335-2260, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

Grand Rapids RCMP seize firearm and charge three males

On March 8, 2024, as part of an ongoing firearms investigation, Grand Rapids RCMP executed a search warrant at a residence in Misipawistik Cree Nation.

 

Three males were arrested at the residence, two of them were WANTED on outstanding warrants. The search resulted in the seizure of a rifle, ammunition, a small quantity of crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia.

 

A 17-year-old male has been charged with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, Obstructing a Peace Officer and Failing to Comply x2.

 

Keiran Ballantyne, 19, has been charged with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, Careless Use of Firearm, Fail to Comply x2, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime and numerous other weapons offences.

 

Both were remanded into custody

 

Kyle Munroe, 25, was remanded into custody on his outstanding warrant.

 

Grand Rapids RCMP continue to investigate.

 

University College of the North Celebrates 25-Year Partnership with University of Manitoba in Nursing Education

University College of the North will celebrate its 25-year partnership with the University of Manitoba in offering the Baccalaureate of Nursing degree at UCN campuses.

 

 Since it began, the program has produced over 500 registered nurses, many of whom have gone on to work in Northern Manitoba.

 

A special event will provide an opportunity to showcase UCN’s Clinical Skills Laboratory, Simulation Laboratory, and Virtual Reality Simulation Laboratory.

 

According to Helga Bryant, UCN Dean of Health, the successful partnership between UCN and U of M has made a real difference in healthcare in the North.

The event will be held today at 2 p.m., at The Pas Campus located at 436  7th Street East.

 

A Thompson Campus event will take place on Wednesday, also at 2 p.m.

Fraud cases in Canada doubled over past ten years

Recognize, reject and report.  Those are the three Rs when it comes to fraud.   

During Fraud Prevention Month, consumers of all ages are encouraged to research fraud and familiarize ourselves with scams and how they can be identified.

Josephine Palumbo, a Deputy Commissioner with the Competition Bureau, tells us how fraud has grown in just the past decade.

“According to Statistics Canada, fraud cases in Canada have almost doubled over the past ten years, surging from 79 thousand in 2012 to 150 thousand in 2022.”

Palumbo added that in 2023, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre received fraud reports totalling a staggering 554 million dollars.  

She added that this increase shows that fraudsters are becoming more skilled and technology like artificial intelligence is helping them improve on their old tricks.

To learn more about fraud prevention go to the Competition Bureau website. 

Thompson RCMP respond to armed robbery and arrest youth

Early Saturday afternoon, Thompson RCMP responded to a robbery at a business in the city.

A male youth armed with a knife was behind the counter stealing items and refusing to leave.

When officers arrived he was still behind the counter, armed with a knife, and trying to open the cash register.

He refused to listen to commands, threatened officers with the knife and then tried to grab one of the officers’ firearms.

However, the suspect was subdued and placed into custody.

He  was searched and found to be in possession of four knives and a pair of scissors.

A 16-year-old male from Thompson is facing weapons charges and charges for resisting arrest and uttering threats.

He was remanded into custody.

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