If you’re a camper or nature enthusiast, mark your calendar.

That’s because provincial park campground reservations will open over five days from April 7 to 11.

To accommodate high demand, reservations will once again open in stages over the five days to make it easier to secure a spot at favorite provincial park campgrounds.

Before opening day, users are encouraged to check their online accounts, update passwords and review reservation rules. The Parks Reservation Service also offers campsite photos and descriptions to help campers choose the perfect spot.

Reservations open at 7 a.m. each day online at manitobaparks.com and by phone at 204-948-3333 (in Winnipeg) or toll-free at 1-888-482-2267.

Various sites and accommodations can be reserved during the reservation period.

Go to manitobaparks.com for the complete schedule and fees.

It was announced in Budget 2025 that admission to provincial parks will be free for the coming year.    This does not include camping fees.

The Thompson Neighborhood Renewal Corporation’s Executive Director, Oswald Sawh, delivered the results of the latest Point in Time Count, or PIT count,  on Thursday at the Ma Mow We Tak Friendship Centre.

The latest PIT count was conducted from October 21st to 24th, 2024.

Its purpose was to determine the minimum number of homeless people in Thompson, their demographics,  and the drivers behind their homelessness.

Of the 215 people considered homeless, men and women were equally represented, with 90 per cent saying they are sheltered.

Two thirds identified as Thompson residents and one-third as not from Thompson.

Those interviewed ranged in age from 18 to 83, with 95 per cent identifying as indigenous.

Poverty, mental health, trauma  and intimate partner violence are among key drivers of homelessness.

PIT counts have previously been carried out in Thompson in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2022.

The full report will be available on the City’s website at thompson.ca in the future.

The 2026 Manitoba Winter Games to be hosted here in Thompson is less than a year away.

Todd Harwood and Cristy Andres are co-chairs for the event, and organizational meetings are currently under way regarding financing, marketing and volunteers.

Planning takes place with input from Sports Manitoba who will help the local committee pull off a successful event.

Mayor Colleen Smook shares some venues that will likely see some improvements in advance of the games.

“Some of the places that have been earmarked for improvement are the Trojan gym at the RD Parker, Mystery Mountain cross country ski trails, Mystery Mountain period, cross country ski trails on the North side of the Burntwood River, and some upgrades in the TRCC.”

The last time Thompson hosted the Games in 2018, it was reported that $1.7 million in economic activity was generated for the city.

The games are for athletes ages 10 to 17 and include 12 sports being run over one week.

A year-round effort we should make to avoid the never-ending cycle of flus and colds is to wash our hands, watch our distance and wear our masks.

Keeping up-to-date on our immunizations is also important.

Bruce Krentz, Health Promotion Co-ordinator for the Northern Health Region has an update for parents.

“We’ve got Kindergarten and Pre-K, Pre-Kindergarten, immunizations coming up so if you have children who are ages 4 to 6, give your public health office a call and book an appointment in Thompson, our number is 677-5350.”

To make an appointment for your child, call 204-677-5350, go to northernhealthregion.com or check out their facebook page.

While at it, Krentz reminds us to check in on our own vaccine status.

If you are under the weather with a cold or flu and feel you need some medical advice, you’re encouraged to contact QDOCS.ca.

The Manitoba government is investing $1.5 million and partnering with the Mining Association of Manitoba Inc. to develop and deliver an internationally focused critical minerals marketing campaign.

The aim is to attract foreign investment to the province and diversify export markets.

Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation Minister Jamie Moses made the announcement Wednesday, saying the province is committed to strengthening and growing our mineral economy.

The internationally focused campaign will aim to attract new industry partners in Europe and around the globe and lessen reliance on the U.S.

According to Natural Resources Canada, in 2023, 56 per cent of Canada's mineral exports went to the United States.

Manitoba is home to multiple critical minerals of worldwide interest, with 30 of 34 minerals on Canada’s 2024 critical minerals list, 45 out of the 50 minerals on the United States’ critical mineral list and 24 out of the 34 minerals on the European Union’s list.

Thompson Fire & Emergency Services (TFES) will be under new leadership in April.

Dennis Benson is assuming the position of TFES Chief.

Benson’s new role in Thompson is a return to his firefighting roots. He started as a TFES Auxiliary Firefighter in 1994, advancing through the ranks to become a Lieutenant and then Deputy Chief over the course of 11 years.

Before that, Benson served 11 years as a member of the Wabowden Volunteer Fire Department.

“I’m thrilled to return to Northern Manitoba where my firefighting journey began and help guide Thompson
Fire & Emergency Services into a new era,” said Benson.

Since leaving Thompson in 2005, Benson spent 10 years as a Fire Inspector with Brandon Fire & Emergency
Services and another decade as a Fire Inspector with Regina Fire & Protective Services in Saskatchewan.

“It’s great to welcome Dennis Benson back to our community and to an organization he knows well,” said
Mayor Colleen Smook. “His leadership and experience will be valuable assets for TFES members and the
residents of Thompson over the years to come.”

Milder weather paired with a mix of snow and rain this week, has made roadways and sidewalks ice-covered and dangerous.

Bruce Krentz, Health Promotion Co-ordinator for the Northern Health Region, shared some advice for those who walk to work, school or for exercise.

“Walk on designated walkways, especially any of them that have been treated for ice. Take shorter steps, walk a little bit slower. Proper footwear is just so big and this is the exact time of year that we need to be wearing some sort of spikes. The other really big one is to get rid of distractions while you are walking.”

He added that if you start to feel yourself falling down, just relax and let it happen so as to reduce injuries.

Take a few moments to get your bearings after you fall, so you have time to check for injuries and make sure you’re able to continue on your way.

Krentz also encourages us to be careful on any sort of waterways at this time, as the ice may not be stable as temperatures warm up.

Today, NDP candidate Niki Ashton (Churchill—Keewatinook Aski) launched her campaign office in Thompson. 

 

"Our region needs strong representation, with a proven track record of delivering for our communities," said Ashton. "Northerners know the NDP successfully stopped Liberal cuts to Indigenous communities while delivering on pharmacare, dental care and key investments for our communities."

 

Ashton, a proud Northerner who lives in Thompson with her family, has a proven track record of fighting for and delivering for Northern and Indigenous communities. 

 

"Mark Carney has spent his career helping the ultra-rich," added Ashton. "His company, Brookfield, fought first Nations in court. He is talking about making cuts. Pierre Poilievre is a Trump wannabe who will slash services and investments in our region. Neither of them are in it for us. Only the NDP will stand up for Northern and Indigenous peoples."

 

Niki Ashton's Thompson campaign office is located at #108 - 7 Selkirk Avenue.

Diabetes is a chronic condition that requires 24/7 monitoring to keep it under control.

For children with the condition, the job of tracking blood sugar levels, counting carbs and just generally monitoring things falls to their parents.

However, according to Heidi Boyachek, the mother of an 11-year-old daughter,  Hayley,  with diabetes, she has to rely on others to help her family.

“These days, my team is quite big and I’m so proud of it. I can send her to school during the day and know that there’s multiple people watching what her numbers are, multiple people checking the time table and knowing “Oh, she’s going to be going outside to play soon, let’s make sure she’s okay” or “Oh, it’s almost gym class” or “We are getting close to lunch or snack time”. I have so many thoughtful, watchful eyes over her and it’s such a good feeling because it really does take a village.”

April 1st is acknowledged as National Caregivers Day, a day to shine a light on the people who care for those with diabetes, as they often can go unnoticed in the daily stresses that come with the condition.

Catch the full interview with Boyachek on Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business’s latest Business Barometer Long-term index hit an all-time low of 25 points since launching it in 2000.

The index is geared to determine how optimistic Canadian businesses are feeling about their future prospects and success.

Andreea Bourgeois, Director of Economics for the CFIB, emphasized how bleak the current outlook is across the country.

"It is worse then it has been after the September 11th attack, during the recession of 2008/2009 at that point, it was around 39 or 40 and that seems really low. It is lower than it has been during the financial crisis in 2015 and it’s even lower then it was during the Pandemic.”

Bourgeois attributed the pessimism business owners are feeling to the trade wars and the uncertainty with the federal government, especially in light of the upcoming election.

She added this will impact business investment and plans for expansion, as well as freeze hiring and potentially reduce the workforce through lay offs.

Until this month, the Index has never been lower than 36 points and has seen its highest point around the mid-70s mark.

Hear more from Bourgeois about the index on Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

The Crime Severity Index was developed in 2009 as a complementary measure to the conventional crime rate.

Population counts used to calculate the CSI come from census statistics and have continually put certain communities at the top of the index, including Thompson.

On City Beat Thursday, Mayor Colleen Smook explained.

“Where it hurts is places like Thompson, North Battleford, Prince Albert, and Prince George, those of us that are hub communities and we actually serve a much larger than the 10 to 15 thousand population that we actually are.”  

Smook said that the reporting would only be accurate if they rated the city on the population it actually services, which is closer to 60-thousand, than the number who live in the city.

A recent change in the Crime Severity Index reporting no longer ranks communities, which Smook said is preferable.

FP Canada’s 2025 Financial Stress Index has found that residents in the Prairie provinces are feeling more stressed by their financial situations than other provincial counterparts.

David Christiansen, a certified financial planner with Christiansen Wealth Advisors, shares some results.

“Overall, 42 percent of Canadians identify money as the biggest stressor in their lives and for the fourth year in a row, money stress ranks above health, relationships and work in the prairies in Manitoba, we are about 44 or 45 percent.”

Prairies data shows that we are not as hopeful about our financial futures as other Canadians,  and 43 per cent of us experience anxiety and mental health challenges because of financial stress, compared to 38 per cent nationwide.

Learn how you can address your finances and reduce the stress that comes with them, catch Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

Monday’s  Committee of the Whole meeting provided some good news regarding the Community Safety Officers.

Mayor Colleen Smook shared the details yesterday on City Beat.

“Another one of the good things is that we’ve been short CSOs as you’ve been aware. We’ve been seeing challenge getting some more but we are now up to a full complement of four, the last one is just doing some training, and one of our CSO is acting in the place of our License Inspector but he’ll be back out patrolling the streets very shortly.”

In June 2014, Manitoba amended The Police Services Act to allow municipalities to create Community Safety Officer Programs to enhance public safety in their communities.

The City of Thompson was selected to partner with Manitoba on a two-year pilot CSO Program. Making Thompson the first municipality to have CSO’s.

Smook said the License Inspector position has been interviewed for and we should hear more details about the outcome soon.

If you’re looking to connect with the Canadian Mental Health Association Thompson, you should know they have a new facebook page.

Stephanie Hysert with the CMHA Thompson shares the details.

“It’s called the Canadian Mental Health Association Thompson Region. This month reflects on Nutrition Month. Also on the Facebook page, it offers mental wellness tips, we do weekly affirmations and mental health check ins, we share mental health facts and even our programs and services that we provide here at the CMHA.”

Hysert also reminds those interested in supporting the CMHA, that they have a fund raiser currently taking place.

The organization is selling cookbooks created by staff and other community members for $20 each, with no taxes.

Proceeds go toward covering program costs and needs, organizational supplies for the Thrift Store and an outdoor digital sign.

You can call Hysert at 204-677-6051 or drop by their location at 43 Fox Bay to get your cookbook.

In September 2023, Thompson Immigrant Services opened their office in Thompson.

They are part of North West Regional Immigrant Services which also has offices in The Pas and Swan River.

Abbygail Enriquez, a Settlement Coordinator with the Thompson office, lists some of the services they provide to newcomers.

“We help them if they’re looking for a house, an apartment or they’re looking for a job. We also assist them in immigration and paper work. We also do English language classes, we do community programs and events to help newcomers connect with others.”

Enriquez said many immigrants are choosing Canada as their new home for better jobs, quality of education, safety and a higher standard of living.

Thompson, in particular, attracts many for professions in health care, education and mining.

Tune in to Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10 for the full interview about Thompson Immigrant Services.

At last week’s regular meeting of council, the City of Thompson approved their Strategic Plan.

Mayor Colleen Smook has details.

“With only 20 months remaining, we’ve actually already accomplished a fair bit. This will set the stage for what’s going to happen to the end of our term and start work on what the next term of council is and get them started on the path continuing forward as to what the City of Thompson wants to see.”

Smook said the City’s Community Safety and Well-being Plan will need to be updated in the future.

She also added that the city will need to address further infrastructure improvements once the current ICIP (I-SIP) projects such as road work and water renewal are completed.

Niki Ashton, NDP MP for the Churchill Keewatinook-Aski riding is not impressed with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new cabinet.

She believes the pared-down Cabinet is missing some key portfolios.

“He flunked the Cabinet. He left out Status of Women, Labour, Crown-Indigenous Relations, and Official Languages. You couldn’t get a clearer message from Mark Carney that labour issues and worker’s issues don’t matter. You couldn’t get a clearer issue that the status of women, that official languages, and that the critical commitment to Indigenous reconciliation to a stand alone Crown-Indigenous relations ministry don’t matter.”

Ashton also took issue with the Carney’s announcement to rescind the Capital Gains Tax, saying it would only give a tax break to the rich who needed it the least.

Ashton echoed the words of Karina Gould, one of the candidates for the position Carney now holds, calling him “Conservative-lite.”

On March 13, 2025, at approximately 4:00 am, Gypsumville RCMP responded to a call of a reported home invasion in the community of Lake St. Martin First Nation.

 

When officers arrived on scene, they were advised by the residents, 2 males and 1 female, that three males entered the home with firearms demanding wallets and anything else of value inside the residence.

 

One of the suspects discharged their firearm during the incident killing a dog that was inside the home, there were no other injuries.

 

The suspects fled with undisclosed items before officers arrived.

 

After further investigation, the victims were able to identify the three suspects, and as such, RCMP have issued Warrants of Arrest for the following: Skylar Cook, 23, and Dylan Keeper, 33 both from Lake St. Martin, and Kendell McKay, 26, from Winnipeg.

 

RCMP are asking anyone with information to call the Gypsumville RCMP at 204-659-2682 or call Manitoba Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Secure online tips can also be made at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

 

On Tuesday evening, HTFC Planning and Design from Winnipeg held a Community Visioning Open House to get input from Thompson residents for the City’s Development plan.

Last updated in 2013, the new Development Plan will address community wants and needs as identified by attendees of the open house.

That will include how and where the community wants land to be developed.

Mayor Colleen Smook shares some of what she heard at the Open House.

“The Seniors Council, they definitely need a building because we are getting more seniors in the community, and then I had also heard from daycare where we have daycare shortages here. Affordable recreation, especially for that older group, that 12 to 18 type.”

Future planning sessions will take place to review the plan as it takes shape to include these recommendations.

Smook added she hopes to see more people at the next session to get an even wider range of feedback and input.

On March 11, 2025, at approximately 8:00 pm, Dauphin RCMP conducted a wellbeing check at an address on 6^th Avenue NE, in the town of Dauphin.

 

When officers arrived on scene, they located a 29-year-old male who was seriously injured and advised he was being held against his will. Six other occupants inside the residence, 5 males and 1 female, were arrested without incident.

 

The victim was taken by EMS to hospital and treated for his injuries.

 

After further investigation by Dauphin RCMP along with Manitoba West District Crime Reduction Enforcement Support Team (CREST), a search warrant was executed at the residence.

 

Officers seized over 78 grams of methamphetamine, 8 grams of cocaine, multiple firearms, and Canadian currency.

 

The following suspects were arrested and charged with numerous Weapons and Trafficking offences:

 

• Joseph Ferland-Ironstand, 30, from Dauphin
• Carl Gabriel, 24, from Dauphin
• Sherri Huntinghawk, 36, from Dauphin
• Dean Levasseur, 37, from Dauphin
• Lane Miller, 26, from Shortdale Valley River First Nation
• Brandy Monkman, 31, from Ebb and Flow First Nation
• Percy Mousseau, 33, from Ebb and Flow First Nation

 

All suspects were remanded into custody.

 

Dauphin RCMP along with CREST, continue to investigate.

National Poison Prevention Week begins on Saturday.

Bruce Krentz, Health Promotion Co-ordinator with the Northern Health Region has more.

“Each year, more than 4,000 Canadians lose their lives due to poisoning and annual unintentional poisoning deaths have now surpassed transport related deaths in Canada. There is a lot of potential poisons, some of the most common medications, household cleaners and cannabis products that can be in and around your home so it’s really important to know how to safely store those items.”

Prescription and over-the-counter medications are the leading cause of poisonings in Canada, with pain relievers being the most prevalent.

Household cleaners can be fragrant and brightly coloured and appealing to children, so storing them out of reach is important.

And, ingesting cannabis products is the most common cause of cannabis poisoning in children, with many edible cannabis products looking similar to candy.

In the case of poisoning, head to your local emergency room.  If it’s not urgent, there’s a 24-hour number to call.  That’s 1-844-764-7699.

George Weston Limited, the company that owns Shoppers Drug Mart is suing the City of Thompson in relation to the 2023 blaze that destroyed their local store.

The lawsuit was filed with Manitoba Court of King's Bench last Thursday.

On March 9, 2023, Thompson Fire and Emergency Services crews were first called to a fire around 1:50 a.m. and again at 5 a.m. following a reignition of the first fire after firefighters left the scene.

Claims by the company allege the fire service failed to take steps to ensure the first fire was completely extinguished before leaving the scene; failed to put in place an adequate fire watch; and failed to properly monitor the status of the fires, resulting in the total loss of the store.

The lawsuit claims the city breached its duty of care, and as a result the company is entitled to be compensated for unspecified loss, damages and expenses related to the fire.

None of the allegations in the lawsuit have been tested in court. No statements of defence have been filed.

The City of Thompson has no comment as the matter is before the court.

A majority of small- and medium-sized businesses say they’re taking a hit due to the U.S - Canada trade war.

In fact, 62 per cent of businesses are saying the ever-changing tariff deadlines are creating uncertainty.

Michelle Auger, a Senior Policy Analyst with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, says the federal government can help.

“Things that the federal government can do right now to create a more favourable business environment in Canada would be things like tax reduction, initiatives to encourage Canadians to buy local, basically looking at ways to reduce the red tape internally within Canada and really focus on removing those internal trade barriers.”

The CFIB is also recommending Parliament resume before March 24th so the government can work on the expansion of the E.I. Work-sharing program, which could help businesses avoid layoffs.

For more on the trade war, catch Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

On Sunday morning, Norway House RCMP received a report from the hospital of a 43-year-old man who had arrived at the hospital earlier that day, suffering from a stab wound.

The victim was pronounced dead just before 6 am.

Officers learned that the victim had been stabbed on a nearby roadway.

The scene was then located and secured.

RCMP are asking anyone with information, in relation to this homicide, to call the Norway House RCMP at (204) 359-6483 or leave a secure tip at manitobacrimestoppers.com.

Norway House RCMP, along with RCMP Major Crime Services and Forensic Identification Services, continue to investigate.

The University College of the North’s Linkages conference was held in Thompson at the end of February.

On City Beat last Thursday, Ian Graham, the Communications Officer for the City of Thompson addressed a major topic of discussion for attendees.

“They heard about how there is a lot of untapped potential in the North, whether that’s in resources or in workers. People need to work together and get support from other levels of government to help unlock that potential by doing things like training residents to fill the jobs that the economy relies on.”  

Graham said it’s also important to make certain northern communities have the services and amenities that they need to attract people to work and stay here.

While Thompson is first-and-foremost considered a mining town, it is also a northern hub for services like education and health care.

There is also a push to develop and promote the north, including Thompson,  as a tourism destination.

Congratulations go out to Thompson Immigrant Services, the recipient of the March donation from 100 Women Who Care Thompson.

Every 3 months, the group accepts nominations for three local charitable organizations, giving them the chance to share what services they provide and how they could use the donation.

Thompson Immigrant Services is a part of North West Regional Immigrant Services out of Swan River and is  new to Thompson.

It has been operating locally for 6 months, and has determined there’s a need for English language training amongst newcomers.

It hopes to provide local in-person language classes to its clients and the money from the grant will be used to buy English language training books and possibly pay for local tutors.

Various representatives from the City of Thompson have been attending conferences here in the city, in Toronto, and down in the United States.

Ian Graham, the Communications Officer for the City of Thompson shared the benefits of having Mayor Colleen Smook and City Administrator Anthony McInnes attending the PDAC (P-DACK) conference in Toronto this week.

“There is a lot of nickel, ore and other valuable minerals under our feet here in Northern Manitoba so it’s important to let the mining exploration companies know about Thompson and the transportation networks and infrastructure that exists here.”

Graham said that the PDAC conference is a huge networking opportunity for those representing Thompson and mining in the north.

He added it was a chance for Smook to meet with senior representatives from Vale, in light of the current review they have undertaken for their Manitoba operations.

The Thompson Seniors Community Resource Council provides programs and resources  for local seniors and elders.

Penny Byer, Program Co-ordinator for the council, says food insecurity is a serious issue for some local seniors, as is isolation.

Here she talks about a new approach to address that.

“There is also something called social prescribing where the medical profession might be seeing a patient and say ‘well, the medical needs are being met but they still need something else. Maybe they need some socialization or something.’ In that case, the doctors or the nurses, whoever it is, will send us a social prescribing form and we’ll contact the person and we’ll try and get the person involved in some of the things that we do.”  

Byers said there are a number of opportunities for seniors to socialize, from their congregate meals each Tuesday, to pot luck dinners and trips to Paint Lake, as well as other gatherings weekly at the TRCC and Legion.

For more information about the Thompson Seniors Community Resource Council, you can call 204-677-0987.

You can also tune into Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon.

This is Nutrition Month across Canada.

Joanna Ledoux, a Community Dietitian with the Northern Health Region, explains the focus of the month.

“In Canada, Nutrition Month has been celebrated for over 40 years. The main goal and the focus has been too promote the role and value of registered dieticians. It’s the most visible public awareness campaign for dieticians, reaching millions of Canadians.”  

Ledoux said our food choices are impacted by many things in our lives, such as activity levels, mental well-being, work patterns, family and lifestyle, food preferences, cooking skills and budget.

She added that there are two main challenges we face when it comes to diet and nutrition issues.  The first is the ever-rising cost of food.   The second is taking all we know about healthy eating and putting it into practice.

Learn more about Nutrition Month.  Hear the full interview with Ledoux on Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

The Manitoba Trappers Association Fur Tables return to Thompson today.

It takes place from 9 am to 4 pm at the Thompson Regional community Centre.

The fur tables are open to registered Manitoba Trappers and their families.

Fur Buyers will be available, plus there will be trap sales, displays and crafts.   There will also be kids activities and door prizes.

The Thompson Fur Table was started in the late 1970's by provincial staff to provide northern trappers with an opportunity to get better prices for their raw pelts.   It is now organized by the Manitoba Trappers Association.

Licensed fur dealers gather to inspect each trapper’s lot of fur.   Each dealer provides a quote for the lot and the trapper selects the best price.

On February 24, 2025, officers with the Manitoba Integrated Violent Offender Apprehension Unit (MIVOAU), an integrated team consisting of Manitoba RCMP and Winnipeg Police Service officers, and the RCMP Manitoba Integrated Legal Enforcement Team (MILET), travelled to the Island Lake RCMP Detachment area where, over the course of three days, February 25 to 27, they conducted operations targeting prolific and violent offenders with outstanding Warrants for their arrest.

Over these three days, a total of 19 accused were located and arrested without incident. Five of the accused were arrested in Kitiganwacheeng (Garden Hill First Nation), seven in Minithayinikam (St. Theresa Point First Nation) and seven in Wasagamack First Nation.

“The goals we have set out for our unit are simple, take as many prolific and violent offenders off the streets as possible to make these communities feel safer,” said Sgt. James Ries, “Once again, I believe we’ve accomplished this with the number of accused we removed from the communities. Yes, we still have a lot of work to do but we’re up for the challenge.”

The Manitoba Integrated Violent Offender Apprehension Unit (MIVOAU) continues to investigate.

The provincial budget for 2025 is set to be announced soon.

Stephanie Hysert with the Canadian Mental Health Association in Thompson hopes to see financing for housing as a major component of the budget.

“The Right to Housing Coalition wants to ensure that the budget includes investments in ending homelessness and housing insecurity is a priority.”

Hysert shared that in Thompson there is effectively a zero per cent vacancy rate for social housing and that at least 250 such new units are needed for people experiencing homelessness,  and low-income households that are living in units that are unaffordable, in poor condition or over crowded.

Over 100 organizations across Manitoba have endorsed this call to action, including CMHA Thompson.

If your organization wishes to add their support, call the CMHA at 204-677-6051 or contact the right to housing coalition directly at provincial@righttohousing.ca.

Back in January, it was announced that Vale SA's Canadian unit launched a strategic review that could include the potential sale of its mining and exploration assets in northern Manitoba.

When asked on City Beat last week if there was any anxiety or uncertainty being felt here in the City, Mayor Colleen Smook had this to say.

“Not with the city at least, we are working with them as usual. Anthony and I will be at the Prospector Developer Convention in Toronto so we’ll be able to talk to some of the head folks from Vale and maybe get a little bit more of an idea of their plans.”

Smook encouraged Vale employees to stay the course for now until the review is finalized.

She added that even if the mine here in Thompson is to be sold, there are a number of groups who have voiced interested in purchasing it, and believes it will move forward in a positive way.

On Friday, the long-awaited snowmobile trail between Snow Lake and Cranberry Portage was officially opened.

The Snow Lake Sno-Drifters Snowmobile Club hosted the grand opening event which was kicked off with a morning ride starting in Snow Lake and ending in Cranberry Portage.

Riders from The Pas and Flin Flon joined them before making the return trip to Snow Lake for a celebration dinner.

The trail creates a vital link between northern and southern Manitoba’s trail systems and extending connections in Saskatchewan, Ontario and the United States.

The milestone was achieved after years of effort by SledMB53, a project to develop and promote snowmobile tourism in Northern Manitoba, along with involvement from local snowmobile clubs.

A recent study by Blue Cross shows a number of factors are changing the way Canadians are planning their travels for 2025.

Nikki Makar, Manager of Individual Product and Sales Manager with Manitoba Blue Cross shares the biggest take-away from the study.

“The studies show that the love of travel is still very strong but 2025 will see travellers making adjustments amid things like financial pressure, geopolitical uncertainty, rising over tourism and climate change concerns.”

Makar said Canadian travellers are tackling the high cost of travel by reducing their number of trips, travelling closer to home, seeking less costly accommodations and destinations, travelling in off-peak seasons and by shortening their trips.

She also added that 51 per cent of Manitobans and 47 per cent of Canadians said they will be avoiding travel to the United States.

Catch the full interview with Makar on Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

Monday’s regular meeting of council had one item of note on the agenda regarding a zoning by-law amendment for a “Youth Placement Facility.”

On City Beat yesterday, Mayor Colleen Smook provided details about the facility.

“MKO got some funding here a couple of years ago and have been working on this. They purchased old Riverview Restaurant’s lot and they’ve been doing extensive renovations on that.”    

Back in 2022, the Manitoba government provided $2 million in funding to MKO to lead the implementation and operation of a youth healing lodge in Thompson, the first of its kind in the province.

The youth community healing lodge is intended to provide more justice resources in the north, reduce youth recidivism rates and decrease the use of Thompson’s RCMP cells for non-violent youth.

Smook said that the facility is expected to house 10 to 12 youth.