On August 28, 2021, at 6:10 pm, Thompson RCMP responded to a report of two children, a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old, having been struck by a vehicle on Station Road in Thompson. 

The driver of the suspect vehicle, who attempted to flee the scene on foot, was apprehended by bystanders who had witnessed the collision.

Officers, along with EMS, arrived on scene within minutes and in speaking with the witnesses, were told that the vehicle had driven onto the sidewalk and collided with the two girls, who were walking with their father.

The two-year-old was treated and released on scene by EMS and the 4-year-old was taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening physical injuries.

The 36-year-old male driver, from Thompson, was arrested for impaired driving and taken back to the Thompson Detachment where he provided breath samples that were found to be three times the legal limit.

Jaden Kenneth Pittman was remanded into custody on numerous charges including Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle x2, Operation of Motor Vehicle while Impaired/Over 80, Failing to Stop After Accident and several counts of Fail to Comply with Release Order Conditions.

Thompson RCMP continue to investigate.

 

As support staff at the School District of Mystery Lake began picketing outside the school board office yesterday morning after four years of contract negotiations, the board’s chairperson says disruption of services is to be expected.

In a letter to parents, Lindsey Anderson states the district will aim to continue all the educational services that are possible.

She also requests that all school registrations be directed to the school board office rather than through the schools due to picket lines that may present at some schools.

Anderson writes the district will continue to work toward an agreement with the United Steelworkers Local 8223 in order to bring an end to this strike as soon as possible.

The union, which represents employees including custodians, maintenance staff, library clerks, secretaries, and educational assistance, have been without a contract since April 2017.

Manitoba’s police watchdog has determined the Thompson RCMP didn’t contribute to the death of a woman in police custody in February.

The woman was arrested at a local restaurant on February 1^st of last year for public intoxication and was put up in a holding cell at the detachment.

A few hours later, a cell guard found the woman unresponsive. RCMP and Thompson Fire and Emergency Services conducted CPR, however she was pronounced dead.

Officers later learned the woman was med-evac’d two weeks earlier to Winnipeg for an intracranial brain bleed.

The four officers who were on duty and had contact with the deceased were designated as witness officers and the Independent Investigation Unit also interviewed four civilian witnesses.

Other materials reviewed for the case included video footage, scene photos, and medical reports.

Manitoba Public Health reported 201 new cases of COVID-19 have been identified since Monday, keeping the five day test positivity rate at 2.8 percent. 

They also reported one death in the Interlake Eastern region. 

Of the 56 new cases reported today 22 were in the Southern region, 18 in Winnipeg and 10 in Northern health with single digits in the other regions.

50 cases are reported to be active in the Northern region.

Of the total 58,479 reported cases 443 are active, 56,847 people have recovered and 65 are in hospital with 21 in intensive care.

Oxford House and Thompson RCMP rescued two canoeists who were stranded on the Hayes River over the weekend.

On Friday afternoon, the Oxford House detachment was notified by the International Emergency Response Coordination Centre that it got a PS distress signal from the pair.

The canoeists stated their boat had been badly damaged and was unusable after attempting to cross a section of the rapids on the river.

Working together with the Thompson detachment, Oxford House RCMP chartered a float plane to the canoeists and rescued them.

The pair, a 60 year-old woman and 63-year-old man were unharmed.

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak is urging anyone with information on a suspect believed to be involved in a sexual assault case in Norway House Cree Nation earlier this month to notify investigators.

About a dozen people were apprehended by Norway House RCMP August 11^th after a 34-year-old woman with serious injuries escaped from a residence in the community, telling officers she had been held against her will and repeatedly assaulted.

The victim was transferred to Winnipeg in stable condition, where she’s receiving treatment.

Norway House Chief Larson Anderson says the community stands in solidarity with the victim, and will advocate for her to receive the supports she will need in the months and years to come to recover.

Anyone with information about 36-year-old Cody Monias can call Norway House RCMP at 204-359-6483 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Incumbent MP Niki Ashton kicked off her campaign here in Thompson yesterday as the NDP candidate for Churchill Keewatinook-Aski in the federal election.

Ashton states she’s proud of the work the NDP has done to help northern and Indigenous communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as fighting for access for PPE, income supports for Canadians who either lost their jobs or had their hours cut, as well as supports for students.

She says one of the important issues for her campaign is ensuring unmarked graves at former residential schools are searched.

Ashton reiterated other key campaign promises from the NDP, such as higher taxes for the rich, addressing climate change, and improving living conditions in First Nation communities.

Ashton is running against Conservative candidate Charlotte Larocque from Thompson and Liberal candidate Shirley Robinson from Cross Lake First Nation.

Garrison Settee will serve a second term as Grand Chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak.

73 votes were cast by chiefs, councillors, and headmen of MKO Nations, with Settee winning by a vote of 58 to 15 against Ken Bighetty of Mathias Colomb Cree Nation.

Settee says he’s extremely thankful the leadership voted him for a second term, and looks forward to advocating for MKO First Nations over the next three years.

The voting took place during the organization’s annual general assembly in Norway House Cree Nation, which wrapped up yesterday.

UPDATE #1 - Aug. 20, 2021:  Earlier today, Travis Apetagon turned himself into Norway House RCMP Detachment. Police are still seeking the public’s assistance in locating 36-year-old Cody Monias from Norway House.

Anyone who may have information on the whereabouts of Cody Monias is asked to contact Norway House RCMP at 204-359-6483 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

In the early evening hours of August 11, 2021, an officer with the Norway House RCMP attended a residence in the community as part of an ongoing investigation. As the officer was speaking with a male subject, a 34-year-old female exited the residence and ran towards the police vehicle screaming for help.

The officer observed the female suffering from numerous serious injuries. She advised the officer that she had been held against her will and had been repeatedly assaulted.

Additional officers attended the scene and entered the residence. A total of 11 individuals were located inside and all were arrested in relation to the assault.

The victim was transported to the Norway House nursing station.  She was later transferred to a hospital in Winnipeg, in stable condition, for further treatment.

The investigation has led to a total of 14 individuals being implicated in the assault.  

The following four individuals have been charged with Aggravated Sexual Assault, Forcible Confinement, Uttering Threats and Assault:

• A 17-year-old female from Winnipeg
• Kendra Mckay, a 29-year-old female from Norway House
• Kiefer Menow, a 29-year-old male from Norway House
• Stefan Monias, a 30-year-old male from Norway House

All four accused were remanded into custody and scheduled to appear in provincial court in Norway House.

In addition, eight other individuals are facing charges of Aggravated Sexual Assault and Forcible Confinement:

• A 20-year old female from Norway House
• A 27-year-old male from Winnipeg
• A 28-year-old female from Norway House
• A 32-year-old female from Norway House
• A 33-year-old female from Norway House
• A 37-year-old female from Norway House
• A 48-year-old female from Norway House
• A 52-year-old male from St-Adolphe

These individuals have been released and are scheduled to appear in provincial court on November 18, 2021, in Norway House.

Norway House RCMP has issued warrants of arrest for the following two individuals who remain at large. They are wanted on charges of Aggravated Sexual Assault, Forcible Confinement and Assault:

Cody Monias, a 36-year-old male from Norway House
Travis Apetagon, a 40-year-old male from Norway House

Anyone who may have information on the whereabouts of these two are asked to contact the Norway House RCMP at 204-359-6483 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

Norway House RCMP continue to investigate.

UPDATE: Robin Brightnose has been safely located. The RCMP thank the public for their assistance.

On August 15, 2021, Thompson RCMP received a report of a missing 27-year-old female.

Robin Brightnose was last seen the morning of August 15, 2021, in Thompson.

She is described as 5'5", 120 lbs, with black hair and brown eyes.

Police and family are concerned for her well-being.

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

Thompson RCMP is looking for a suspect after responding to shots being fired into a residence on Pipe Road the night of Aug. 16.

Officers arrived at the scene and found the victim, a 25 year-old man from Cross Lake, with a gunshot wound.

He was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Police determined that a male suspect approached the residence and shot through a window, striking the victim.

Anyone with information on this shooting is asked to call the Thompson RCMP at 204-677-6909, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or submit a secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

The first set of seven winners in the Vax to Win Lottery has been announced, with each of them winning $100, 000. 

The winner in the Northern Health Region is Bernell Lavallee.

The province states the ten winners of the $25, 000 scholarships will be announced soon. 

The next lottery deadline is September 6^th, and is open to those who receive their second dose on or before that date.

Manitoba public health reported 24 new cases of COVID-19 this afternoon, bringing the five day test positivity rate to 1.8 per cent. 

Of the new cases, twelve are in Winnipeg with single digits in other regions, including three in the Northern Health Region. 

Of the total 58, 071 reported cases 565 are active, 56, 318 people have recovered, and 67 are in hospital with 13 in intensive care.

Manitoba public health reported 102 new cases of COVID-19 have been identified since Aug. 13,  bringing the five day test positivity rate to 1.8 per cent. 

They also reported three new deaths with one each in Prairie Mountain, Winnipeg and Interlake Eastern Health Regions.

Of the 33 new cases reported today, 20 are in the Winnipeg Health Region with single digits in other regions, including four in the Northern Health Region.  Of the total 58, 049 reported cases 591 are active, 56, 271 individuals have recovered, and 69 are in hospital with 12 in intensive care.

Dr. Joss Reimer with the Vaccine Implementation Task Force says universities can make decisions on mandatory vaccinations.  She explains on top of what the province decides to do in regards to mandatory vaccines, the universities can make their own decisions on what the expectations are for their students, employees, and people who are going to be on site without the province intervening.

Effective today, anyone born on or before December 31^st 2009 is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Computers For School Manitoba is currently setting up shop here in Thompson to offer its services to northern residents.

It’s a part of the non-profit’s two-year pilot project to provide its programs to Manitobans at a wider scale, which was developed in partnership with the Northern Manitoba Sector Council and Community Futures North Central Development.

Menard says this makes it easier for northerners to receive the affordable technology closer to home as opposed to having it shipped from Winnipeg, which can be costly.

The facility will be located on 160 Hayes Road and is expected to launch in mid-September.

The Manitoba Triple-A U-18 Hockey League will begin the regular season next month, and the NorMan Northstars is having its training camp to prepare.

Mike Krentz with the NorMan North Stars Executive Board says the conditioning camp will begin next week and the tryout weekend will start August 27^th.

Krentz is encouraging those interested to sign up as quickly as they can before conditioning camp.

Visit normannorthstars.com to register or for more information.

The federal government has announced 16.5 million dollars in funding for the construction of high-speed fibre infrastructure in Pimicikamak Territory.

This will be done through a joint venture between Cross Lake and Norway House Cree Nation, which has the approval to install nearly two hundred kilometres of fibre optic cable connecting the two communities.
 

The cable will be installed from a breakout point along Manitoba Hydro’s Bi-Pole III transmission line and routed to the respective community.

Broadband Communications North also received 6.5 million dollars in funding, which will service communities such as Pukatawagan, Shamattawa First Nation, Saint Theresa Point, and Tadoule Lake

The detail engineering will begin immediately, and construction is expected to be completed by December of next year.

Manitoba Public Health reported 128 new cases of COVID-19 have been identified since Friday, bringing the five day test positivity rate to 2.5 percent. 

They also reported one new death in the Winnipeg Health Region. 

Of the 25 new cases reported today, there are eight each in the Southern and Winnipeg regions with lower numbers in other regions, including four in the Northern Health Region.  

Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Jazz Atwal says once fully immunized, residents should apply for their Immunization Card. 

Atwal explains when Manitobans have those two doses, it’s important to be able to prove that vaccination as there are some things in Manitoba right now that require that vaccination status that only allows fully vaccinated individuals to partake in. 

He says travel by fully vaccinated individuals as an example,

It was also noted thatthis fall, focused immunization teams will attend schools with students 12 to 17 years of age to provide first and second doses beginning with schools where there are lower immunization rates. The province states this will help reduce barriers and bridge gaps in vaccine uptake among youth.

With the province loosening restrictions for Phase 3 of the reopening plan, the Northern Health Region spoke to Arctic Radio to go over what this means for the north.

Doctor William Libich, a medical officer of health with the authority, says residents can see the announcement of Phase Three as "very good news".

Libich explains the new orders will set the stage for a wider reopening down a line and provide a greater sense of normalcy.

Libich adds that while wearing masks will no longer be required, it’s still recommended that people wear them, especially those who haven’t been vaccinated.

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

Following the apology Premier Brian Pallister issued this week regarding the comments he made on residential schools last month, MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee is calling on him to resign.

Settee echoes the criticisms levied by fellow Indigenous leaders, stating Pallister’s wording implies he’s simply sorry that listeners misunderstood the intentions of his comments.

In July, Pallister said people who arrived to Canada didn’t come to the country to destroy but to build, which resulted in MLA Eileen Clarke stepping down as Indigenous Relations Minister.

The Premier explained in a press conference on Tuesday that he wasn’t trying to praise colonialism, and was trying to appeal to people to build the future together.

Settee says Pallister’s comments on working with Indigenous leaders rings hollow, as he hasn’t had a meeting with the Premier since April of last year which lasted five minutes.

He goes on to state Pallister’s apology doesn’t go far enough, and the Premier continues to make it clear that he isn’t interested in advancing reconciliation

RCMP in Grand Rapids responded to a report of a modified grenade that was located in the community.

The grenade was found on a riverbank behind the school on Saturday at around noon.

The RCMP Explosive Disposal Unit determined the device was a modified pineapple grenade with the pin removed.

The grenade was hollow and not at risk of exploding, and EDU safely disposed of the device.

RCMP say it’s unknown at this time where the grenade could have come from, as it had washed up on shore.

An arrest has been made well in the homicide investigation of Bobbie Lyn Moose.

52-year-old Jack Clarence Flett was arrested and charged with first degree murder after RCMP investigators flew to Thompson last week.

He was taken into custody and made his first court appearance before being transported to Winnipeg on Saturday, where he will continue to be held.

Moose, who was from Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, was 29 years old when she was dropped off at the local Walmart on October 1^st, 2019.

Her body was found near Nelson Road a few weeks later.

Flett and Moose were known to each other.

Manitoba Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin announced changes in the public health orders, which are effective 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 7.

Roussin notes some sectors can be open without restrictions, including indoor and outdoor gatherings at private residences, gyms and fitness centres, libraries, personal services such as hair and nail salons, day camps, retail businesses, markets, garden centres and malls.

Other sectors will have some restrictions, although they will be loosened. That includes restaurants, museums, galleries, concert halls and overnight camps and you can find more at www.manitoba.ca/covid19.

              Due to the ongoing presence of COVID-19, public health strongly recommends wearing masks in indoor public spaces for everyone not fully immunized including children under 12 and maintaining physical distancing of two meters in indoor settings.

RD Parker Collegiate grads will be capping off their high school career this weekend with the annual prom.

Terry-Lyn Gagnon, Co-Chair of the Parent Planning Committee, says the prom will be outdoor due to COVID-19 restrictions, and there will be tents set up in case of rain.

The customary Walk of Fame will be live streamed this year due to Public Health Orders, which will begin at 9 p.m.

Hear the full interview about this year’s prom celebrations this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10 on Thompson Today.