The Healthy Together Now program helps prevent chronic disease in Manitoba.

This grassroots program has been around for a number of years, and is funded by the provincial government and the various health regions.

Bruce Krentz with the Northern Health Region explains how it works here.

“What it is an opportunity for groups in the community or non profits for different organizations to come forward and look for some funding for different programs that relate to chronic disease prevention so if they are around healthy eating, physical activity, quitting smoking, or mental wellbeing, we would love to hear from you.”

Krentz advises those interested in the program to go to the website Healthytogethernow.net.

It explains how to apply for funds and shows other projects that have been funded in the past.

More information will be available at the Northern Health Region booth next weekend at the CHTM Trade Show.

As part of Budget 2024, initial work is underway to restore the Victoria Hospital as a centre for exceptional health care in southern Winnipeg, with plans to open a new Victoria Hospital emergency room (ER), reopen the Mature Women’s Centre and build the Anne Oake Family Recovery Centre, Premier Wab Kinew and Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced today.

“For too long, people in south Winnipeg have gone without emergency care in their community after the previous government closed the Victoria ER,” said Kinew. “We’re fulfilling our commitment to build a new ER at the Vic. Our budget has the funds to begin that work, while also reopening the Mature Women’s Centre and helping to establish the Anne Oake Family Recovery Centre.”

As part of Budget 2024, the province is investing $635 million in capital projects for the health sector including the work needed to enhance the services at Victoria Hospital. A comprehensive evaluation of the capital project will take place, which includes preliminary design work, scoping and project costing. Construction of the new emergency room is expected to begin within two years, once staffing is secured, noted the premier.

“The best time to start on a difficult task – like reopening an emergency department – is today,” said Asagwara. “We are moving forward with the groundwork to return emergency care and mature women’s care to the Victoria Hospital because local care matters, particularly when there’s an urgent medical need and time is of the essence. Residents of south Winnipeg will be able to have peace of mind knowing medical help is closer, plus this added capacity will take pressure off the entire system and help bring emergency wait times down.”

The premier and minister noted work will also move forward in the coming year to make other upgrades at Victoria Hospital including the reopening of the Mature Women’s Centre for women and gender-diverse people, and the creation of the Anne Oake Family Recovery Centre. The Anne Oake Family Recovery Centre, an addictions treatment facility for women, will allow children to stay with women in treatment, helping to keep families together, the premier and minister added.

“Anne Oake spent her life caring for others. This Recovery Centre will carry her values forward in delivering addictions care for women,” said Scott Oake. “It will offer wraparound supports, like child care, to reduce barriers to entry so every person can access the care they need. It makes sense to pair our centre with the Victoria Hospital, a hospital that has been dedicated to women’s health care for decades. We’re proud to work with the Manitoba government to make this project a reality.”

Victoria Hospital’s emergency room was closed in 2017 as part of health-care restructuring led by the previous government, the premier noted. This also closed the Mature Women’s Centre.

Budget 2024 delivers on the Manitoba government’s commitment to rebuild health care and lower costs for families. It reflects the values and priorities of everyday families across the province.

To learn more about Budget 2024, visit www.manitoba.ca/budget2024.

In 2010, the Red Dress Project was initiated by Metis artist Jaime (Jay-me) Black.

She created the powerful art project as a visual reminder of the staggering number of missing and murdered indigenous women across Canada.  

What started as red dresses hung up in public places in communities across Canada, has evolved to red ribbons and other red items being added to the landscape.  
                                           
While Red Dress day is officially Sunday,  May 5th, Northern Health Region elders and Knowledge Keepers invite staff and patients to join them in a day of solidarity next Wednesday in Thompson.

The event will include a pipe ceremony, smudge, feast and the making of Red Dress pins to honor the women who are missing or murdered.

It takes place from 1 to 3 pm in the Ceremonial Room - Old Chapel room on the second floor at the Thompson General Hospital.

For decades, Manitobans have benefited from the collective health and well-being that vaccinations offer. Routine immunizations save the lives of thousands of Canadians each year, a fact borne out by decades of evidence and data collection.

But beyond their life-saving capacity, vaccines keep us healthy in all of life’s stages. Children can attend school, participate in recreational activities and socialize with their friends without parents having to worry about them catching a vaccine-preventable disease. Vaccines keep adults healthy, so we’re able to earn a living and support our families with fewer interruptions due to serious illness. Seniors can live active, healthy and longer lives because vaccines keep illness at bay.

We’ve witnessed measles outbreaks not just in our country, but also in the United States and globally. Measles, a highly contagious disease, can lead to severe complications including brain infection. However, these outbreaks are preventable. Each one of us plays a crucial role in safeguarding ourselves and our community against measles through vaccination. Two doses of the measles vaccine are nearly 100 per cent effective against a measles infection, underscoring the power of collective action.

It’s National Immunization Awareness Week, a good reminder to catch up on any vaccines you or your loved ones might have missed. We know the pandemic interrupted access to vaccines, but we can get back on track. Be sure to also take the time to update your immunization records – especially if you’ve received vaccines in other provinces or countries.

This week is also a time to consider how easy or difficult it is for Manitobans of all backgrounds, means and locations to get vaccinated. Families and individuals who face barriers to accessing primary care services are at risk of worse health outcomes including complications and severe outcomes due to disease. Addressing health inequities is an important part of our work in public health and we are grateful to the many partners, community leaders, governments and other stakeholders who work to address systemic racism and inequality that affect access to immunization and other health care.

Protect yourself and those you love by getting vaccinated. Know your vaccine history, update your vaccine records and request your vaccine record to have on hand. If you have questions about vaccinations, talk to your health-care provider.

Records can be requested and updated online at www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/cdc/div/records.html, through your local public health office or your health-care provider.

Surgical capacity for spinal patients is being increased and a new provincial spine program is being established to ensure Manitobans requiring acute spinal care are treated sooner, Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced today.

“Manitobans should not have to suffer from debilitating spinal pain. It can completely disrupt every aspect of a person’s life,” said Asagwara. “The creation of a new provincial spine program will reduce wait times for both patients awaiting consultation and those needing surgery, ensuring Manitobans receive treatment more quickly so they can resume their lives.”

The Manitoba government is investing more than $12 million toward the establishment of a new provincial spine program that will reduce long wait times for patient consultations with spinal surgeons, establish centralized wait lists and co-ordinate complex levels of care across a multitude of care providers, diagnostic imaging and operative resources throughout the province, the minister noted.

Operating slates devoted to spinal procedures will increase by more than 50 per cent starting May 1, the minister said, adding all sites, including Concordia Hospital, Brandon Regional Health Centre and Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg, will also benefit from new state-of-the-art, minimally invasive surgical equipment that improves patient outcomes.

Three spinal surgeons have been recruited to Manitoba over the past 10 months – two in Winnipeg and one in Brandon. The minister noted they have been trained on the new surgical equipment and will maximize the use of these new slates, building surgical capacity in Manitoba.

This important advancement in care is also supported by donors to the HSC Foundation’s Operation Excellence fundraising campaign.

“This expansion in spine surgery is another example of what is possible when the government, medical leaders, the HSC Foundation and its donors collaborate for the benefit of all Manitobans,” said Jonathon Lyon, president and CEO, Health Sciences Centre Foundation. “I am pleased this progress in spine care will mean better surgical outcomes for Manitobans. It’s notable that new surgeons have been attracted here by the steps we are taking through Operation Excellence and in partnership with all stakeholders. Surgeons and other health care professionals want to go where they can do their best work.”

The Provincial Spine Assessment Clinic, which is staffed by physiotherapists in partnership with surgeons, will be incorporated into the new provincial spine clinic. This clinic has succeeded in lowering wait times for patients requiring assessment and treatment and will now be fully integrated with the surgeons in the same clinic, the minister said. ACCESS centres will also provide additional imaging technology.

“The establishment of a comprehensive provincial spine program will make it easier for patients and referring primary care providers to access spinal care,” said Dr. Ed Buchel, Shared Health’s provincial surgical lead and HSC’s surgical site director. “The spine care team will now have the central intake and improved data analytics to manage wait lists and optimize the use of the increased and enhanced capacity. More surgeons, in co-ordinated clinics, will deliver more surgery with cutting edge technology.”

Joseph Fourre is determined to take a family tragedy and use it to inform the public that recreational drug use is not safe.

After his son, Harlan, died last year of fentanyl poisoning from tainted drugs, Fourre launched the Singing Red Bear Foundation.

Its slogan is “No thanks.  I’m good, ”  -  one his son Harlan had used often before his untimely death.  

Fourre explains what the slogan means.

“”No thanks I’m good” is two-fold. First and foremost, No thanks: it’s non- judgemental and it’s a polite way to decline. I’m good, the second part of that statement, is empowering and I think that’s what my son was doing, you know? He was saying “No thanks, not judging you but no thanks, I’m good without that.””

Fourre says the Foundation has travelled to northern First Nations and to R.D. Parker Collegiate in Thompson to share the message.

He hopes that over time the campaign to warn young people about the dangers of recreational drugs will spread Canada-wide and ultimately result in fewer deaths due to drugs.

Hear as Fourre shares his and Harlan’s stories and learn more about Singing Red Bear.   Tune in to Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon.

On April 18, 2024, at approximately 8:05 pm, Gypsumville RCMP responded to a shooting at a business in Lake St. Martin First Nation.

Immediately officers and Emergency Medical Services responded and located an injured 34-year-old male. He was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

RCMP identified a suspect and he was arrested.

Memphis Beardy, 20, has been charged with:

•             Discharge Firearm with Intent

•             Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose

•             Possession of Firearm knowing Possession is Unauthorized

•             Disguised with Intent to Commit Offence

•             Possession of Restricted Firearm with Ammo Without Licence

•             Pointing a Firearm

•             Possession of Firearm/Ammunition in Motor Vehicle

•             Fail to Comply with Probation Order

•             Careless Use of Firearm

•             Weapon Possession contrary to order x2

•             Aggravated Assault

•             Using Firearm in the Commission of an Offence

Gypsumville RCMP continue to investigate.

On City Beat Thursday, Mayor Colleen Smook gave a recap of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities meetings in Brandon.

Smook said one session focussed on disaster financial assistance and how to help evacuees in the case of forest fires, while another addressed the dangers of fires in the north this year.

Another took a look at the benefits and drawbacks of having 911 service, which the city is looking at.

Here she talks about the City’s Caucus which she chairs and one of their main concerns.

“It was the cost of policing the level of service provided verses the expectation of what we want for services. You know, do we get our dollars worth, how can we plan around that and work with either the RCMP or private policing.”

In the RCMP report shared at the Committee of the Whole Meeting on Monday, calls for service in the city were down almost 8 per cent from January to March this year, compared to the same time frame last year.

Currently, the Thompson RCMP has a vacancy of  6 officers and 5 municipal clerks.

The Keeyask Generating Station’s north and south access roads have been transferred from Manitoba Hydro to Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure.

These roads now become part of Provincial Road 280, which Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor says is a major link for many northern communities.

She said the province will work with Manitoba Hydro to rehabilitate the road system and decrease travel distance by about 30 minutes between Gillam and Thompson.

PR 280 was first constructed as a permanent gravel highway in 1987, existing as the only road access from Thompson to Gillam.

The Keeyask access road was built for the construction of the Keeyask project and connects PR 280 and Gillam via the Keeyask site.

THOMPSON, MB – City council awarded the construction contract for the new Thompson Regional Aquatic
Centre at a special meeting on April 17, setting the stage for site preparation work to begin as soon as late
May.

Council unanimously approved Penn-Co Construction Canada as the prime contractor for construction of a
new pool next to the Thompson Regional Community Centre.

All of council also approved a contribution agreement that will see the City of Thompson receive an additional
$5 million of provincial government funding toward construction costs. Council also unanimously authorized
Stantec Architecture, which designed the new aquatic centre, to oversee construction on the City’s behalf.
Penn-Co anticipates work on the Thompson Regional Aquatic Centre project beginning May 1, with site setup
starting by the middle of next month and site preparations getting underway a week or two later.

“Those of us on council and Thompson residents as a whole have been waiting for this day for a long time and
I am thrilled that construction of the Thompson Regional Aquatic Centre is set to move ahead,” said Mayor
Colleen Smook.

Construction of the new aquatic centre, which will have a six-lane, 25-metre pool with one accessible lane, as
well as a beach-entry recreational pool and a sauna, is expected to take two years.

The City will continue fundraising to help offset the construction price of approximately $42.6 million. Existing
funding will be used to cover initial costs, supported by short-term borrowing if necessary, with a final
borrowing by-law to cover any remaining costs upon completion of construction

As we experience more wildfires and other pollution, the Canadian Ophthalmological Society is putting us on notice that our eyes and vision are at risk.

Chemical irritants in the air can create allergy-type reactions with red, scratchy eyes or can worsen more serious conditions like cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.  

Dr. Milad Modabber with the COS has this to add.

“If it’s temporary, it’s typically reversible with proper eye care and avoiding further exposure but if you are in a prolonged or repeated exposure to pollutants, whatever they may be, they can lead to chronic eye conditions and in really rare cases, permanent vision impairment as well.”

Modabber recommends minimizing children’s exposure to environmental pollutants because their eyes are still developing.  

He said if parents notice their children complaining about sore eyes, they should use lubricating drops and if that doesn’t help, to see their eye care specialist.

Learn about the risks to your eyes and how you can protect them.   Catch Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

On April 16, 2024, as a result of an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking, Nelson House RCMP, along with assistance from the Manitoba North District Crime Reduction Enforcement Support Team (CREST), executed a search warrant at a residence located in the community of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation.

As a result of the search, officers seized approximately 85 grams of cocaine, 24 grams of crack cocaine, over $3,000.00 in cash and other drug-related paraphernalia.

Jeffery Lee Linklater, 45, and Megan Kobliski-Dumas, 32, both of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, were arrested on scene and charged with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking and Possession of Property Obtained by Crime.

Linklater was remanded into custody whereas Kobliski-Dumas was later released for court scheduled August 21, 2024, in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation.

Nelson House RCMP continue to investigate.

If you’re interested in a chance to get a free computer, enroll for the Computers for Life program at the YWCA Thompson.

The program is offered through Steps to Success in partnership with Altered Minds Inc. from Winnipeg, who will provide the computers as well as the curriculum.

Cat Cogle, program coordinator with Steps to Success, shares what participants can expect in Level One of the course.

“It’s learning how to set up a computer, connect it to the internet, how to use a keyboard and mouse, create and organize documents and folders, find online information, and recognize scams. You’ll learn how to use language translation programs, use maps to plan a trip and send and receive emails.”

Level Two provides training on skills such as online shopping and banking, and how to protect from online scams.  

The program is open to those 18 and up.   

Learn more about Computers for Life and how to register this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10 on Thompson Today.

The Canadian Mental Health Association of Thompson is looking for local support for their Daisy Day fund raiser.

Stephanie Hysert with the CMHA, explains how it will work.

“Your role in this fundraiser would be to ask your patrons when they make a purchase if they would like to donate to the CMHA Thompson. Their name would be put on a daisy and taped to the wall in your establishment.”  

The CMHA will also provide pamphlets regarding their services for you to share with your customers.

The organization is a non-profit and the funds raised will help them offer activities during Mental Health Week, May 6th to 10th.

The Daisy Day fund raiser runs from April 22nd to May 17th.

If you wish to participate contact Stephanie at 204-677-6051.

The Thompson Humane Society provides food and shelter to lost, abandoned and abused animals in the region.

They also hold spay and neuter clinics, wellness checks and vaccination clinics throughout the year.

Now, according to Board Chair Oswald Sawh (SAW), they are expanding their skills and capacity to hold more clinics.

Sawh explains here.

“We will get trained on providing vaccinations which we have not been able to do to date. That will be able to be done on an ongoing basis to not just Thompson but also the surrounding area.”

The Humane Society and our local Tim Hortons are partnering for the upcoming Smile Cookie campaign running April 29th to May 5th.

100 per cent of funds from cookie sales will go to the humane society to purchase new equipment to help them with their clinics.

Hear more about the Humane Society’s upcoming plans and how you can support them during the smile cookie campaign.   Listen to Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

Last summer, Manitoba’s wildfire season wasn’t as devastating as others across the country, but the numbers were still significant.

The fires peaked in June with 116, about a month earlier than usual, and the province had three wildfires of note.   

 They were the Cross Lake fire which began May 15th; the Leaf Rapids Fire which started on June 12th, followed by the Grand Rapids fire June 29th.   

Adam Ladouceur with the Manitoba Wildfire Service had this advice, particularly for remote areas.

“We look after wildfires and not structure fires so the best thing for remote communities and residents to do would be to fire smart around their house, cabin or community to help lessen the impact of an approaching fire and making sure firefighting equipment, or if they have a fire truck, is serviceable and ready to go when needed.”

Ladouceur said they employ over 300 seasonal staff which break out into 40 initial attack fire crews spread out across the province.

He said the province has a pool of 500 Emergency fire fighters who offset the initial attack crews.

Ladouceur says there has also been an uptick in recruiting this year.

Catch more about the Manitoba Wildfire Service and the outlook for the coming summer on Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10.

On April 12, 2024, at approximately 4:30 am, Nelson House RCMP received a report that a youth had pointed a firearm at another youth before running off in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation. Officers obtained a warrant for the youth’s residence.

A search of the residence located a rifle and ammunition.

The 16-year-old male suspect was arrested and charged with Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Firearm in the Commission of an Offence, and Pointing a Firearm. The youth had been on conditions that included a curfew and not owning, possessing, or carrying any weapon. He is also charged with Breach of Release Order. He remains in custody.

Photo attached.

CancerCare Manitoba’s First Nations Webinar Series features its fourth webinar on Tuesday, April 23rd.

The series is aimed at supporting First Nations People living with cancer and their families.

This next webinar, titled “Caring for the Caregivers”,  runs from 1:30 to 3 pm and will feature Donna Head, Indigenous Health Coordinator in the Northern Regional Health Authority.

Information will be shared for how to care for caregivers and Miriam Duff, a psycho-social oncology clinician will offer resources to support caregivers.

This free webinar is open to clinicians, their patients and the general public.  Go to northern health region dot com to register.

The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School’s Professional Division will perform at Westwood School this Monday.

It’s part of the RWB’s “On the Edge” Tour which is set to visit 10 communities throughout Manitoba and Ontario.

The tour began on April 9th and runs until April 21st.

The Westwood School students and staff will be treated to excerpts from the classical ballet, Don Quixote (Kee-hoe-tee), as well as modern creations by RWB’s choreographer, Gabriela Rehak (Ree-hack), some fiery flamenco dancing and other new works.

The “On the Edge” tour model was adopted by the School in the early 1970s, taking inspiration from the “one-night-only” style of touring that was pioneered by the RWB in 1945.

The Association of Manitoba Municipalities spring meeting wrapped up yesterday in Brandon.

Mayor Colleen Smook and other city representatives were on hand to discuss various topics with a crowd of around 600 people, representing 137 provincial municipalities.

Smook says the collaboration with AMM members and the province is proving successful.

“We have, in the last few years, really gained momentum as our cities have come together and shown that we basically all have the same issue just maybe in a different scope. By working together and going to the province, we really feel that they are listening.”

The mayor says key items like health care and policing were front and centre and that many provincial ministers were on hand to meet with convention attendees.

As a result of conversations at the AMM meeting, some Shared Health officials  have committed to come to Thompson May 6th and 7th to see firsthand what is needed for health care in Thompson and the surrounding area.

A partnership between University College of the North and Georgian College in Barrie, Ontario, aims to use technology to teach Indigenous language and culture.

Georgian College will share their immersive and interactive teaching tools with UCN.

Those tools include virtual, mixed, and augmented reality to teach Indigenous languages, culture, treaties and more.

The agreement makes UCN an ally in Georgia’s Indigenous Peoples in XR Project. The project addresses and provides context-based language learning for Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada and abroad.

“XR” refers to the use of virtual, hybrid, and augmented reality technology.

Doug Lauvstad, UCN’s President and Vice-Chancellor said the partnership will help them leverage best practices for teaching Indigenous languages to help ensure the continuance of those languages.

The tax deadline is looming and the Canada Revenue Agency wants Canadians to be aware that with it comes the potential for scams.

David Nunes, a spokesperson for the CRA says scams come at us in many forms.

“Scams can come from anywhere; they can be coming from emails, from phone calls and lately, something that was just reported to us by the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, are these new text messages coming to Canadians with their full names and their social insurance numbers.”

Nunes said this latest scam is coming as the result of an undetermined data breach.

He advises people to be careful to change out their passwords often and not use the same password for multiple sites.    If your password is compromised in one place, it could then be used to access other ones.

Nunes says if you are the victim of a scam, contact your local police, set up alerts with your credit bureau and contact the anti-fraud department with the federal government.

For more on the Canada Revenue Agency, scams and tax tips, catch Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10.

If you’re a grade 7 to 12 student here in Thompson, the Adolescent Health Education Committee could use your input.

They will be holding a Youth Forum in response to a youth survey conducted with students from all 7 schools in the School district of Mystery Lake.

Jolene Brown with AHEC (A-heck) shares the purpose of the forum here.

“In an effort to reach our youth, we are hosting a youth conference on April 25th. We are inviting 100 students from grades 7 to 12 to a gathering at Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Centre. Our plan is to share resources and information gained from the 2022 survey while promoting student voice in leading the path towards positive change.”  
There are limited spots available for students wishing to participate.

If you’re interested in attending, contact your school counsellor or principal as soon as possible.

To find out more about AHEC and the youth forum, listen to Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10.

On April 7, 2024, at approximately 4:15 pm, Norway House RCMP, along with assistance of the D Division Emergency Response Team (ERT), executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) Search Warrant at a residence located in the community of Kinosao Sipi Cree Nation.

As a result of this search, officers seized over 800 ¼ gram rocks of crack cocaine, with an estimated street value in the community of over $20,000, approximately 400 grams of cannabis, over $23,000 in cash, a machete and other drug related paraphernalia.

RCMP have arrested and charged Beverley Chubb, 53, Bobby Chubb, 29, Wain Forbister, 36, and Eethan Scribe, 20, all from Kinosao Sipi Cree Nation, with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, Possession of Illicit Cannabis and Possessing Cannabis for the Purpose of Selling. They were remanded into custody.

Juliet Chubb, 27, from Kinosao Sipi Cree Nation, was also arrested on scene and later released from police custody for a future court date where she will face the same charges.

RCMP continue to investigate.

Photo attached.

Artificial intelligence or AI is present in our lives, whether we’re always aware of it or not.

CDW Canada recently released a report on the status of AI adoption in Canadian businesses.

KJ Burke, a Field CTO with CDW, had this to say about AI.

“It’s accessible to everybody. It’s going to have an impact on everybody and I think it’s natural, especially where people have their livelihood, their family, for us to be skeptical.”

Burke says that skepticism is evident in their report which states that while 61 per cent of organizations are open to AI, comfort levels have yet to catch up as only 51 per cent of I-T decision-makers feel comfortable with its current use within their operation.

Learn more about AI and its applications in business, education and your personal life.  Catch Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.