Provincial Road 280 between Split Lake and Keeyask has been closed until further notice.

The road was closed due to washout.

The closure was announced through a press release from the Town of Gillam.

Community members in Thompson have put together a virtual event to celebrate Canada Day this year.

Holly Gossfeld, an organizer for the event, says there will be a number of activities people can take part in to commemorate Canada’s birthday, such as the Canada Day selfie contest, a balcony and yard decorating contest, and a Bike Rodeo hosted by the Kin Club of Thompson.

Another activity is the Move Your Barbeque celebration that encourages households to move their grills from the backyard to the front yard so that people can enjoy the day with their neighbours while still phycial distancing, as well as performances from local talent in town which will be available to watch online.

Residents can register for contests or find more information by visiting the Canada Day in Thompson Facebook page.

Or you can tune in to Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

The Northern Health Region has expanded visiting hours at their hospitals, including the Thompson General Hospital effective today.

The health authority reports visiting hours are now from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.

They advise patients will only be allowed one pre-identified visitor and those visitors must maintain social distancing while in the hospital.

All visitors will be screened before entering any Northern Health Region facility.

For up-to-date information on NRHA policies, visit northernhealthregion.com.

Three people are under arrest following a drug bust over the weekend.

On June 27 at approximately 12:30 PM, the Thompson RCMP executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant at a residence on Parkway Crescent.

As a result of this search warrant, approximately one ounce of crack cocaine, multiple individual rocks of crack cocaine and dime bags of illicit cannabis, various air pistols and knives and approximately $6,000 CDN were seized by police.

Two men, a 19 year-old and a 30 year-old, both from Thompson, and a 26 year-old woman from Winnipeg, face drug trafficking and proceeds of crime charges.

RCMP say they're investigating a woman's death in a First Nations community in northern Manitoba.

Police say members in the Pukatawagan detachment responded to a report Friday evening of a body found in a wooded area in the community.

Officers attended and located a 22-year-old woman who was pronounced deceased.

Police say the death is being treated as a homicide.

The CEO and founder of Canada’s child advocacy group says she welcomes the senate introducing a bill to establish a Commissioner of Children and Youth in the country.

Sara Austin with Children First Canada says the idea of a children’s commissioner is not new, and that the bill has been long overdue as over 60 countries around the world have instated one.

Austin explains that a children’s commission would serve an important purpose in helping to ensure there’s somebody independent in the government who would promote the rights and wellbeing of children.

She says contrary to popular belief, Canada is currently ranked 25th out of 41 wealthy nations when it comes to being a world-leading country for kids.

For more on what Children First Canada has in the works right now, listen to Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

To put a bow on a rather unconventional final school year for grade twelve students at RD Parker Collegiate, they will be taking part in a graduation ceremony at the end of the week to celebrate the end of their high school careers.

The school’s principal, Rob Fisher, says the ceremony will take place at the TRCC arena at 8:30 p.m on June 26.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only graduating students will be allowed into the arena, and will be given a parking pass to allow family members to park in the TRCC parking lot.

The grad band will also be performing during the ceremony, and the graduation will conclude with a fireworks display.

The grad will be live streamed to the public online.

Two men were taken into custody after they allegedly broke into the Norplex Pool.

Early in the morning on June 23, the Thompson RCMP was alerted to a break and enter at the old pool building, and when they arrived at the scene they saw multiple people fleeing from a smashed glass door.

Police say two men, an 18-year-old and 19-year-old from Thompson, were arrested for break and enter after a brief foot chase.

Both suspects will be released to appear in court at a later date

MKO’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Liaison Unit will be hosting an event to celebrate Pride Month.

The event is called “Diversity is Our Strength, and MKO says it’s is a great way for Thompsonites to show support to the Two-Spirit and gender-diverse community.

It will also be an opportunity to learn more about the community, as the liaison’s Two-Spirit and Gender Diverse coordinator Heidi Spence will be there to chat and provide information.

The event will be held June 25 at the MKO office side parking lot from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

MKO adds that the event will be following public health guidelines, and that everyone is to follow the proper physical distancing and sanitizing procedures.

A man was taken into custody after allegedly assaulting someone outside Walmart.

The incident took place June 18 in the afternoon, and multiple bystanders reported seeing a man punch another man and then rob him.

Two days later, the Thompson RCMP arrested a 23-year-old man from the city.

The suspect faces a number of charges, including robbery and uttering threats.

Four people, including three youths, were arrested after an alleged armed robbery.

On june 19 night just after 11:30 p.m., the Thompson RCMP was dispatched to a report that a man had been stabbed and robbed outside a gas station on Thompson Drive South.

The victim was transported to the hospital in stable condition with multiple stab wounds.

Four suspects were quickly found and arrested by police.

An 18-year-old woman and three male youths ages 17, 15, and 13 face multiple charges, namely robbery and failing to comply with their respective court orders

Planning is underway for what the next school year will look like for students, staff and families.

Manitoba Education, in consultation with education partners, is developing a re-entry framework to guide schools in their planning guided by the advice of Manitoba’s Chief Provincial Public Health Officer. 

Additionally, in collaboration with the Manitoba Teacher’s Society, an online survey of teachers was conducted in early June with the results pending. 

They are now seeking input from families and students in the development of their plan. 

The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete and individual responses will be kept confidential.

You can fill out the survey by visiting engagemb.ca.

Three people from Thompson were arrested for alleged drug trafficking this week after two search warrants were executed in the city.

On June 17 at approximately 8:20 PM, the Thompson RCMP executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant at a result on Stanford Bay. 

As a result of this search warrant, a quantity of cocaine, weapons such as a bear spray and machete, drug trafficking paraphernalia and Canadian currency were seized police. 

A 26 year-old man and a 36 year-old woman face multiple charges, namely, possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Then, on June 19 at approximately 12:45 AM, the Thompson RCMP executed another Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant, this time at a hotel on Thompson Drive. 

As a result of this search warrant, a quantity of cocaine, drug trafficking paraphernalia and Canadian currency were seized by police. 

A 24 year-old man from Thompson was arrested by police.  Police queries determined this man had a warrant for his arrest.  This man faces multiple charges, namely, possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

A driver has been charged with impaired driving earlier this week.

On June 16th at approximately 9:24 PM, the Thompson RCMP received a report of an impaired driver on Mystery Lake Road in Thompson. 

Patrols were made and the driver, a 35 year-old woman from Thompson, was arrested for Operation of a Conveyance while impaired by alcohol. 

The driver failed a roadside screening device and later provided samples of her breath which were more than 3 times the legal limit. 

The driver was released to appear in court at a later date.

There will be a school board meeting tonight, the final one for the school year.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m, and will stream live on the School District of Mystery Lake Facebook page.

From 7 to 7:30 p.m, the public can email their questions to the board to sdml@mysterynet.mb.ca.

The agenda can be found on the school’s district’s website.

It’s Special Olympics Manitoba Awareness Week, and this year’s campaign will be entirely online to adhere to public health guidelines.

Spokesperson Melissa Suggitt says the themes for this year are “Why I Love S-O-M” and “Accept with no Exceptions”.

She adds that the organization will be doing a live interview with a guest on their Facebook page to talk about the different initiatives and programs Special Olympics Manitoba rolls out throughout the year.

You can learn more about Special Olympics Manitoba and participate in the awareness week by visiting specialolympics.mb.ca.

You can also listen to Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

Manitoba Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin announced the latest COVID-10 numbers yesterday.

He reports there are no new cases so the total number remains at 300, no individuals are hospitalized, 286 individuals have recovered and there are seven active cases.

The Public Health Agency of Canada and the Manitoba First Nations Pandemic Response Coordination Team in partnership with the First Nations Inuit Health Branch have deployed four GeneXpert machines to be used by health care providers in Thompson, The Pas, Norway House Cree Nation and Peguis First Nation to supplement COVID-19 testing already being conducted. 

The machine can provide test results in as little as an hour. and will be used to quickly confirm the presence of the virus in those patients who may require support to self-isolate. 

Only three people in northern Manitoba have tested positive for COVID-19, and have since recovered from the virus.

As way to continue to promote preventive measures for spreading COVID-19, the Northern Health Region has begun their Stay Safe Badge campaign in Thompson.

The campaign originally began in The Pas a few weeks ago to continue to urge people to continue physical distancing, thorough hand washing, and appropriate cough and sneeze etiquette..

Lynn Watkins with the Health Promotions department at the NRHA explains the health authority partnered with the Safer Choices Northern Network to reach out to businesses in Thompson and give them safety badges for employees as well as window decals that remind people to remain two meters apart while in the store.

Watkins says this campaign is especially important as the province slowly re-opens the economy.

For more on the Stay Safe Badge campaign, check out Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10.

Inpatients in Northern Health Region hospitals and health centres are allowed to have visitors.

The health authority began allowing patient access as of yesterday.

Patients are allowed one designated visitor, but if their stay at the hospital reached 14 days and are not expected to be discharged in the next 72 hours, two designator people can be approved for visits, though it must be done one at a time.

Visiting hours are Monday to Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Visitors will be screened for COVID-19 when they arrive at the hospital, and must comply with physical distancing measures and strict hand hygiene.

While visitors are not required to wear a non-medical mask, the health authority encourages them to be worn while in the hospital.

More information can be found on northernhealthregion.com.

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak’s Grand Chief Garrison Settee is urging law enforcement services across the country to work with Indigenous leaders to eliminate systemic discrimination that exists within police forces.

This comes after a number of reports of Indigenous people who are experiencing violence and death as a result of their interactions with police officers.

Settee lists the deaths of three Indigenous people who died due to police shootings in Winnipeg, as well as the death of Chantel Moore, who was killed by a New Brunswick police officer during a wellness check.

He adds other recent incidents include an Inuk man who was knocked over by an RCMP vehicle in Nunavut and a Chief of a northern Alberta First Nation who spoke about his experience with police due to having expired tags on his license plate.

Settee explains that police brutality is not new, and that most people simply have a mobile phone to record these incidents.

He goes on to say that it citizens shouldn’t have to be required to record interactions with police, and all levels of government should work together to end police brutality and violence against Indigenous people.

UPDATE: Alice Margo Anderson has been located safe and sound in Nelson House.

The Thompson RCMP are asking for the public's help in locating 49-year-old Alice Margo Anderson from Nelson House.

Anderson was reported missing to police on June 9, and the last confirmed sighting of Anderson was in Thompson on June 6.

Anderson is described as 5'7" and 165 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a blue hoodie and jeans.

Anyone with information on Anderson's whereabouts is asked to call the Thompson RCMP at 205-677-6909 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Manitoba Public Insurance wants both cyclists and motorists to exercise caution on the roadways.

On average, 130 people are injured every year when their bike is involved in a motor vehicle related accident, with half of those people injured from June to August.

MPI says the majority of cycling/motor vehicle collisions take place in urban locations. Based on a 10-year (2009-2018) average, two cyclists are killed and 129 are injured per year in urban locations, compared to one killed and three injured per year in rural locations.

Motorists are urged to give cyclists at least one metre of space when driving alongside them and to take extra caution at intersections and watch for cyclists when make a turn.

Cyclists are reminded to always follow the rules of the road, including stopping at stop signs and traffic lights and to never pass stopped vehicles in the same lane or when stopped at an intersection as the driver may not see you.

The provincial government has announced that they will be contributing $ 2.8 million for a sobering centre in Thompson.

Justice Minister Cliff Cullen says a sobering centre will address public intoxication in the city by providing a safe place for publically intoxicated people while the effects of drugs and alcohol wear off. Cullen adds that the sobering centre will offer an alternative to police and hospital-based responses.

Mayor Colleen Smook says the new sobering centre is a central part of the Main Street North project, and adds that with a sustained, committed effort, we will see a “safer, healthier Thompson.”

According to a provincial news release, public intoxication continues to be a significant health and public safety issue in Thompson, as the city has had over 2, 000 detentions under The Intoxicated Persons Detention Act in 2019.

The Boreal Discovery Centre has named Calm Air President Gary Bell as the chairperson of the centre’s fundraising committee.

The acting chair of the BDC Barb Carlson says in a press release that the centre is excited to have Bell a part of the committee, and adds that his skills and experience will increase the reach of the organization’s fundraising efforts.

Bell, who is also the chair of the Northern Tourism Advisory Committee, explains the BDC is an important attraction for the north, and that it will be a “go to location” for visitors to the area.

Mayor Colleen Smook says Bell is a “great choice” for the position, and when it is completed, the BDC will be a major tourist attraction as well as an education resource for northern schools and partners.

The press release explains future plans for the Boreal Discovery Centre include a Wolf Centre of Learning, which will promote the study of wolves in the north.

Mayor and council will vote on a resolution on whether or not to approve the 2020 Draft Financial Plan at tonight’s city council meeting.

This follows the public hearing that was held Thursday night regarding the proposed budget.

The proposed budget is drafted to be just over $32.2 million, a decrease from 2019’s budget of 34.7million.

Deputy Mayor Les Ellsworth explained that due to the impacts of COVID-19, there will be revenue losses in recreation, ambulance, landfill, transit, by-law infractions and building fees.

Ellsworth says that to off-set these losses, the city implemented cost-saving measures, such as suspending transit until further notice, suspending special events for the year, and either reassigning or not filling vacant positions for 2020.

The council meeting will be tonight at 7 p.m. and will be streamed on the City of Thompson Facebook page.

UPDATE: Dean Warren Pagee has been arrested and is currently in police custody.

The Thompson RCMP is on the lookout for a wanted man.

33-year-old Dean Warren Pagee is wanted for multiple offences, namely assault, assault with a weapon, and mischief under $5, 000.

Pagee is believed to frequent Thompson as well as Winnipeg.

He is described as being around 6’2”, 250 pounds, and has various tattoos over this body, most notably a tattoo of a "W" on his cheek.

Anyone with information on Pagee’s whereabouts is asked to call the Thompson RCMP at 204-677-6909 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

The RD Parker Collegiate’s music department will be doing their Grade 6 instrument try-outs in the fall for the next school year due to COVID-19.

Sarah Lewis, a band director at the high school, says they will also move their music store to the fall as well.

Usually Lewis visits the Grade 5 students around this time allowing them to choose their instruments around this time, but the pandemic has led the department to approach the band signups differently.

Lewis explains there are many benefits for students who join band, as there are opportunities for students to meet other kids from the other schools, they can get familiar with the high school, and there are trips band students can take later on in the program.

Parents of students going into Grade 6 in the fall who are interested in signing up for band can email Lewis their child’s name and school to slewis@mysterynet.mb.ca.

Tune in to Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10 for the full interview with Lewis.

A Thompsonite was arrested and charged for alleged drug trafficking.

A press release from the Thompson RCMP states the 28-year-old was arrested on May 29 in the Juniper Drive area after police observed drug trafficking activity.

Upon his the arrest, around 20 grams of cocaine, 4 ounces of illegal cannabis, and drug trafficking paraphernalia were seized by police.

The suspect faces multiple charges, namely possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

The man was released to appear in court at a later date.