The Thompson Urban Aboriginal Strategy will be presenting an Indigenous art series tomorrow.

Charlene Lafreniere, the chairperson for the Thompson Urban Aboriginal Strategy, says the Art Series of Northern Manitoba Exhibit is by local artist Jasyn Lucas, who was commissioned to do seven pieces by the group.

Each of piece of art represents one of the seven sacred teachings that reflects the history of the traditional land of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation.

This is the first time the organization is holding the Northern Manitoba Exhibit in the TRCC multi-purpose room.

The exhibit will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and again in the evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Three people were taken into custody after Thompson RCMP seized cocaine at a local residence.

On Monday, the police along with the Manitoba North District Crime Reduction Enforcement Support Team executed a search warrant on Juniper Drive.

As a result, officers found coke and drug trafficking paraphernalia such as digital scales, and plastic baggies, along with bear spray.

Two people from Thompson, a 20-year-old woman and 48-year0old man, as well as a 31-year-old man from Wabowden, were arrested at the residence and face multiple drug trafficking charges.

The 31-year-old man faces an additional charge for being in possession of oxycodone for the purpose of trafficking and possession of bear spray contrary to a court order. 

Both men were remanded into custody and the woman was released to appear in court at a later date.

Two timber wolves were spotted on the Millennium Trail this morning.

The wolves were in the Burntwood area near Manasan Drive at 8 a.m.

The City of Thompson is advising residents to take extreme caution when using the trails in the area, especially when you’re with pets.

The city is working with Manitoba Sustainable Development to locate the wolves and relocate them in a non-lethal way if possible.

Thompson’s Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes are on their way.

Two-hundred-sixty-three boxes were collected in the city and were shipped to Winnipeg on Monday by Maple Bus Lines free of charge.

They are now on their way to Calgary and from that depot they will be sent to children in India, Africa and South America.

Since 1993, 157-million shoe boxes have been shared with children in over 130 countries.

Last year alone, Canadians donated over half-a-million shoe boxes for this cause. If you missed the collection deadline here in Thompson, you can still fill a box online. Just go to samaritanspurse.ca.

City council decided not to reconsider the Responsible Pet Ownership By-law Amendment by a vote of 5-4.

Councillor Jeff Fountain requested the by-law amendment be brought back to council after it was defeated in its second reading last month.

Fountain cited that the decision to vote against the amendment was a mistake, saying that it leaves pet owners with three or more dogs wondering if their pet will be taken away.

He also said that the amendment would bring revenue to the city, and that despite council’s reasoning that the animal control officer would be overworked, he said there were stats available to the public that show that’s not the case.

Other councillors spoke up against the by-law, saying that the by-law gives irresponsible pet owners an opportunity to have up to five pets in most combinations with the Excess Animal Permit, with a cap of four dogs.

Additionally, they did not feel the permit would bring in a large amount of revenue into the city.

A Resource and Information Fair will be held next week as a part of Manitoba Substance Use and Addiction Awareness Week.

The fair will give community members an opportunity to learn more about ways to address substance abuse and addictions, as well as bring forward solutions for change.

The fair will be at the TRCC lobby this Monday from 3 to 8 PM, and will have guest speakers from Addictions Foundation Manitoba, Northern Regional Health Authority, and a city representative at 4 p.m. to kick-off the event.

AFM will also have a booth at the fair, along with the Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) clinic, Safer Choices Northern Network, and the NRHA.

FM's booth will have information on drugs and alcohol, as well as a display with this year's theme, "Sigma Ends with Me", showing that drigs do not discriminate and all people can be impacted by substance abuse.

The NRHA will have safe use supplies displayed or the community to learn about harm reduction practices as it relates to drug use. They will also have information on Nalxone kits and how it remedies an overdose.

In addition to a booth, Safe Choices Northern Network will be showing a screening of The Flood, a documentary on the overdose crisis in Canada. The screening will be in the multi-purpose room at the TRCC at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m, and is free to attend.

Safer drug distribution will be on site at the event as well.

Manitoba Substance Use and Addiction Awareness Week runs from Nov. 25 - Dec. 1.

Passengers of a bus from Thompson to Winnipeg have returned to the city following an accident on route to the province’s capital. Sid Varma, the Co-Owner of Thompson Bus and Freight, says according to the latest RCMP update he’s received, the accident occurred yesterday morning at approximately 3:15 south of Easterville. "Our bus was going... south. It was 20 to 25 kilometres south of Easterville." He explained that a pick-up truck was parked in the middle of the road, which wasn't running or had any of its lights on. "Our bus was coming from the back... and to avoid the collision, our driver turned the steering wheel towards the ditch, and that's how the bus got into the ditch." Varma added that there were no injuries reported from the accident, and that most of the passengers were taken to Grand Rapids’ Town Hall on a school bus around 30 to 40 minute after the accident happened, while a few passengers opted to hitchhike down to Winnipeg. The passengers who were in Grand Rapids have since returned to Thompson via a rescue bus sent from Winnipeg. He explains that the accident will not affect the passenger service, as all routes are operating on their regular schedule. The investigation into the accident continues.

Arctic Gateway says the Canadian National Railway strike will restrict and/or stop rail cars on CN lines.

In a service notice, the railway explained the strike on CN lines will inhibit the supply of cars delivered to Hudson Bay Railway during the strike and vice versa.

Arctic Gateway adds that to their understanding, this strike will only affect freight services, and passenger services should remain the same.

CN workers went on strike midnight yesterday after they failed to reach a deal with the company.

Talks between CN and the union representing the rail workers are ongoing.

The Sikh community in Thompson now has a permanent place of worship.

The Sikh Society of Thompson’s new temple is located at 111 Goldeye Crescent, where the Apostolic Church used to be.

Raj Thethy, a board member with the Sikh Society, says the religious organization was established in the city in the early 1970s.

Since the community was small at that time, Sikhs would congregate in their own homes, before renting out the Fish and Game Hall and and St. Lawrence Hall when the Sikh population  steadily increased. They would hold a service once a month.

Raj explains since the community has grown tremendously since then, board members decided it was the right time to find a building and make it a permanent Sikh temple.

Inderjeet Singh, a fellow board member with the Sikh Society, says the decision was made last Decemeber, and the organization began fundraising efforts to purchase the building where the Temple is now located. however, Singh adds that they have not collected the sufficient funds at this point to buy the building outright, and anyone interested in donating can do so through their GoFundMe page.

The first service at the new temple will be held this Sunday to commemorate the 550th anniversary of the birth of the founder of the Sikh religion, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, which begins at 11 a.m.

For more on the Sikh Society of Thompson, listen to Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon,

Vale is planning on growing mining in Thompson.

The Head of Vale Operations in Manitoba, Gary Eyres, announced that Vale has plans to invest $1 billion in the city's mining operation from now until 2023.

The announcement was made during the Nov. 13 Thompson Chamber of Commerce meeting.

Eyres explains that Vale plans to expand their deep ore bodies to two different extensions, which would add another 25 to 30 years of mining in their underground ore bodies.

He also talked about the potential economic gains that the investment could bring to Thompson.

"With the $1 billion investment that we're talking about over the next five years, we're talking about the difference in the economic benefit of around $7.9 billion."

Eyres adds that the emergence and high investment in electric vehicles over the next few years will also mean a greater demand of high-grade nickel, which he says Thompson produces a high quantity of.

One city councillor wants the mayor and council to give the Responsible Pet Ownership By-law Amendment a second chance.

Jeff Fountain wrote a letter to council, saying he would like them to review the decision made at the October 28th city hall meeting, where the second reading of the by-law amendment was defeated by a vote of six-to-two.

The by-law amendment would have introduced the Excess Animal Permit, which would have allowed Thompsonites to legally have up to five pets per household in most combinations of dogs and cats, with a cap of four dogs per home.

Red tape, lack of staff, and irresponsible pet owners were major reasons why the by-law amendment never made it past the second reading, but Fountain says council’s decision alarmed him, as he explains it leaves many pet owners wondering as to whether their pets will remain with them in the future.

The Responsible Pet Ownership By-law will be brought back to the next city council meeting as a resolution, which will be on Monday, November 25th.

A man wanted on multiple warrants by the Thompson RCMP is believed to be in Winnipeg.

37-year-old Rodney Gordan Moise is wanted on three warrants for Assault with a Weapon, Forcible Confinement, and three assaults. He's also wanted for Choke to Overcome Resistance, Break and Enter, Uttering Threats, and more.

In a Facebook post, Manitoba RCMP say they suspect he may be in the Winnipeg area.

Anyone who has seen Moise or know his current whereabouts are asked to call the Thompson RCMP at 204-677-6909

Police in Norway House found drugs and a gun during a traffic stop.

On Nov. 8 at approximately 3:30 pm, RCMP officers conducted a traffic stop on Highway 373 and Paupanekis Point Road, in Norway House.

A search of one of the occupants resulted in the seizure of a .25 calibre pistol, cocaine and cash.

Josh Mink, 26, of Norway House has been charged with numerous offences including Possession of a Prohibited Firearm, Carrying a Concealed Weapon and Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking.

RCMP continue to investigate.

A wanted teen has been arrested, and was found with a air gun.

On Nov. 7th at approximately 9:42 AM, the Thompson RCMP received information that the wanted youth was at the TRCC.

Police arrived at the rec. centre and arrested the 17 year-old youth whom police knew had multiple warrants for their arrest for failing to comply with a court order.

Upon searching this youth and their back-pack, an air pistol was located and seized by police.

The teen faces an additional breach of a court order for being in possession of a weapon as well as a charge of Possession of a Weapon Dangerous to Public Peace.

The youth is currently in police custody.

There were some shake-ups during Wednesday night’s city council organizational meeting.

Les Ellsworth was appointed as Deputy Mayor, taking the reins from Councillor Kathy Valentino, who had served in the position three times before.

Ellsworth will also chair the Finance and Legislative and Government Affairs committees, and will co-chair the Development Review committee.

During yesterday’s City Beat, Mayor Colleen Smook explained the reason why she decided Ellsworth was up to the task was because he had the most amount of votes during last year’s municipal election, and worked hard during his first year as a councillor.

Smook also ran down the other new committee chairs and members, and appointed the new Youth Members from R.D. Parker Collegiate, who are listed below:

City of Thompson Committee Chairs 2019-2020

Finance and Administration

Chair: Deputy Mayor Les Ellsworth

Vice-Chair: Councillor Kathy Valentino

Human Resources

Chair: Councillor Judy Kolada

Vice-Chair: Councillor Earl Colbourne

Public Works and Infrastructure

Chair: Councillor Kathy Valentino

Vice-Chair: Councillor Andre Proulx

Public Safety

Chair: Councillor Brian Lundmark

Vice-Chair: Councillor Duncan Wong

Recreation and Community Services

Chair: Councillor Jeff Fountain

Vice-Chair: Councillor Kathy Valentino

Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs

Chair: Deputy Mayor Les Ellsworth

Vice Chairs: Councillors Duncan Wong and Brian Lundmark

Development Review

Chair: Councillor Judy Kolada

Vice-Chair: Councillor Brian Lundmark

Communications

Chair: Councillor Andre Proulx

Vice-Chair: Deputy Mayor Les Ellsworth

Board of Revision

Chair: Councillor Earl Colbourne

Vice Chairs: Councillors Judy Kolada and Andre Proulx

Secretary to the Board: Tammy Parobec, Executive Assistant

Youth Members of the Standing Committees

Kendra Martinussen: Recreation and Community Services Commitee

Jasraj Kullar: Communications Committee

Taylar Hanson-Oliveira: Public Safety Committee

Karisma Vyas: Finance and Administration Committee

Drew Heskin: Student Delegate to City Council

Thompson RCMP is asking for the public's help in finding two suspects in a dine and dash incident.

On Oct. 31 at around 4:35 in the afternoon, The Hub filed a complaint to the RCMP about two women who ordered food at the restaurant.

The women placed an order for approximately $85, and then took the food without paying.

Anyone with information on about the identity of the two women are asked to call the Thompson RCMP at 204-677-6909.

Tips can be submitted anonymously to CrimeStoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477, or online at manitobacrimestoppers.com.

A special city council meeting is taking place later tonight.

It’s the annual organizational meeting, as Mayor Colleen Smook will appoint a Deputy Mayor, as well as assign various committee chairs. After that, council will then vote on committee members.

The full agenda can be found on thompson.ca.

The organizational meeting begins at 7 p.m. at city hall, and will be in the council chambers.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

A vigil is set to take place in town tomorrow (Nov. 7) after Hunter Straight-Smith was taken off life support over the weekend.

He is the three-year-old boy who had been stabbed as he slept by his mother’s ex-boyfriend in an attack last week.

33-year-old Daniel Jensen has been charged with aggravated assault and attempted murder. Those charges are expected to be upgraded once an autopsy is completed.

The vigil will be at the Aboriginal Centre at UCN from noon to 2 p.m.

In a Facebook post, organizers of the vigil say this is a way for Thompson residents to show their love, support, and compassion to Hunter’s family and friends during this difficult time.

Everyone is welcome to attend, and are encouraged to bring a teddy bear, drums, and rattles.

One youth was arrested following a noise complaint at Deerwood School.

Thompson RCMP were dispatched to the school Friday night at around 10:20 p.m. as a group of people were reported to be drinking and listening to loud music behind the school.

Police arrested a 17 year-old male youth for failing to comply with multiple court release conditions, namely for a breach of curfew as well as a condition to refrain from the consumption of alcohol.

This youth was taken into custody.

Thompson Fire and Emergency Services were able to contain a fire that broke out last night.

The blaze broke out on the 7th floor of the Forest View Suites South Tower just before 9 p.m.

The building was evacuated, and no injuries have been reported at this time.

RCMP is investigating the fire along with the Office of the Fire Commissioner.

This follows the fire that occurred at Forest View Suites North tower back in September.

Thompson RCMP is looking for two suspects in an armed robbery that took place Halloween night.

Police were dispatched to the robbery just before 9 p.m, which was reported in the wooded area behind Deerwood School, as two unidentified men wearing Halloween masks pointed a gun at a another man and took his property. The man who was robbed was not injured during the encounter.

One of the suspects was described as being between 6'2" and 6'4" tall with a slim build, and was wearing a Michael Myers mask with green hair attached to the top of it. This man was also wearing a dark navy parka.

The other suspect was described as 5'10" in height with a heavy build, and was wearing a green tuxedo jacket/suit, a purple tie and a black shirt over the tie. This man had white paint on his face to his neck, green painted eyebrows and red paint all over his mouth.

Anyone with information about these two men is asked to call the Thompson RCMP at 204-677-6909 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477. Tips can also be submitted online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.