Big Island Lake and Schist Lake residents still in the Flin Flon area providing support ask to leave today.

Now,  there's another fire South at The Pas so evacuees will have to proceed through Easterville and down the Number 6 Highway.

MANDATORY EVACUATION

BAKERS NARROWS PROVINCIAL PARK COTTAGERS AND RESIDENTS

Due to the ongoing wildifre situation near Flin Flon ALL Bakers Narrows Provincal Park Cottagers and residents are being evacuated.

We are asking everyone to leave no later than 3 pm, May 30th.

The fire on highway #10 continues to be active and thus the highway remains closed at this time.  There is a check stop located at the junction of #10 and #39 highways.  You will be directed to follow #39 Highway to #6 Highway south.

It is recommended to seek out accommodations with family and friends as commercial operations provincially are very limited.

Provincial Park staff will be initiating a door to door notification starting at 10 am today.

For those residents of Bakers Narrows Provincial Park who have not pre-registered please call 204-271-1946.

Yesterday, representatives from the City of Flin Flon provided an update on the wildfire evacuation that was launched Wednesday afternoon.

The City reached out to neighbouring communities for help and The Pas and Swan River answered the call, providing accommodations, food and other necessities.

In the update, Councillor Alison Dallas-Funk addressed a rumour making the rounds.

“Number one thing, the fire has not crossed the perimeter. We know that a lot of people within our community that have left are speaking about the fire crossing the perimeter, no assests are burning within our community and municipality boundary at this time so we are pretty grateful for that.”

The community hall was the staging ground for information and to get those who needed transportation on buses to The Pas and then to Winnipeg.

Dallas-Funk reminded anyone remaining in the city they must leave as this is a mandatory evacuation.

For anyone needing further information, call 204-687-0073.

Use this link to hear the latest on the Flin Flon evacuation.

Evacuation planning is front-of-mind for many northerners, with out of control fires surrounding many communities, including Lynn Lake, Cross Lake and Flin Flon.

Basics like water, medicines, clothing and non-perishable food items are a good start.

And, you may already have some other items ready to go, according to Bruce Krentz, Health Promotion Coordinator with the Northern Health Region.

“We are lucky in the North that a lot of us go camping. A lot of the things that you need to be prepared for a few days are probably already around your house so before you worry that you need to build this kit and spend a bunch of money, take a look around to see what you’ve got already. Likely you got most of those things and if you check your food stache, you probably don’t have to rush out and clean out the shelves of a grocery store.”

Krentz suggests you create a list of what you want to take in case of evacuation so you’re not scrambling at the last minute and forgetting important items.

He also advised making sure your vehicle is fueled up and have some cash handy.

The city of Thompson is under a fire ban until further notice.

Warm and windy conditions lead to the ban being issued on Thursday morning by Fire Chief Dennis Benson.

On City Beat last week, Mayor Colleen Smook shared what is and isn’t allowed.

“So that means all backyard fires, manufactured outdoor, burning applications, campgrounds, etcetera will be prohibited from having any fires but cooking with a propane barbeque will still be allowed.”   

Residents are encouraged to keep barbecues away from walls and overhangs; never to leave fire or hot surfaces unattended and to always have a hose or extinguisher nearby.

Non-compliance with the fire ban may result in fines and recovery of emergency service costs.

To report open burning during the ban, call 204-677-7916.

Being in, on or near the water is usually a part of our summer activities.

And, if boating is something you enjoy, make sure you’re staying safe while you’re doing it.

Bruce Krentz, Health Promotion Coordinator with the Northern Health Region has some safety tips.

“Anytime you are on your boat, even when you are around the water, make sure you got your life jacket on. Especially for kids, make sure you have one that fits them. Balance your boat when you head out onto the water, make sure that your people and your load and everything are balanced so you don’t get going in the wrong direction or end up upside down.”

Krentz says tell people where you are going and when you plan to be back and be  weather-wise.

Make sure you know the weather conditions and prepare for any eventualities by having the appropriate clothing on hand.

Kin-Canada is the parent organization for Kinsmen, Kinette and Kin Clubs across the country.

Our local Kin Club is active in the City, as local president, Shannon Johnston explains.

“This February, the Kin Club of Thompson played a huge part in Winterfest by bringing back our town’s mascot, Rudy the Raven, who had a makeover! In April, the Kin Club donated $500 to the Thompson Seniors Community Resource Council to support their new building and last year, the Kin Club spearheaded the New Shoe Donation Campaign for the Sydney Project and the Thompson Crisis Center.”  

Kin Canada also is a huge supporter of those with Cystic Fibrosis, a condition Johnston was diagnosed with at age 13 months.

Tomorrow, the Kin Club will hold a barbecue in the Canadian Tire parking lot from 11 am to 2:30 pm to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis Canada.

Drop by and show your support.

To learn more about Kin-Canada and the impacts of Cystic Fibrosis, catch the Thompson Today interview with Johnston this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

Thompson Fire & Emergency Services has issued a temporary open air fire ban for the City of Thompson effective immediately.

The use of backyard fire pits or outdoor manufactured burning appliances other than gas/propane barbecues is prohibited. 

The ban was issued due to dry and windy conditions posing an increased fire hazard and will remain in effect until further notice.

Outdoor summer activities often include campfires, but you have to be aware of when and where you have them.

Bruce Krentz, Health Promotion Coordinator with the Northern Health Region, offers some tips for campfire safety.

“Choose a good spot to have your fire so make sure you are a safe distance from buildings and also anything that can burn. Ideally you are in a fire pit but if you are making one in another area then make sure that you’ve cleaned away leaves, dust, dry grass and things like that. Choose level ground and try to shield yourself from the wind.”

Krentz recommends everyone check the fire hazard level when you enter any provincial park to see if it’s safe to have a fire at that time.

He said it’s always important to supervise the fire, and to never leave it unattended, especially with children around.

Fire season has begun and we should be prepared for any emergency, including an evacuation from our home.

Bruce Krentz, Health Promotion Coordinator with the Northern Health Region shares some items that we should have ready to go at all times.

“Things like water for drinking, one litre per person per day, a little bit more if you have some pets and a couple more litres for cleaning and those kinds of things. Non perishable foods, a can opener, have a list of documents and things that you want to take with you.”

Krentz said it’s important to have an emergency plan ready for any eventuality and you should talk it over with your family so they’re aware of that plan.

He encourages everyone to go to Red Cross DOT ca for more tips on how to prepare for any emergency.

On May 14, 2025, at 2:15 am, Island Lake RCMP received a report of a UTV rollover that occurred in Minithayinikam (St. Thresa Point First Nation).

Officers have determined that the UTV, being driven by a 31-year-old male from Minithayinikam, along with a 34-year-old female passenger, also from Minithayinikam, was travelling in a field, near the community, when the driver lost control of the UTV, as a result of driving carelessly, causing it to roll.

The male driver, who was not wearing his seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle. He was taken to the Nursing Station where he was pronounced deceased. The female passenger was also taken to the Nursing Station where she was treated and released.
  

Island Lake RCMP continue to investigate.

On May 11, at approximately 7:40, Thompson RCMP responded to an intimate partner violence sexual assault with a weapon.

Officers attended the Wellbriety Centre and located a female victim visibly injured.

The 42-year-old victim from Thompson reported that her boyfriend sexually assaulted her in a tent at an encampment. She was hit multiple times with a hatchet while being sexually assaulted.

The accused, a 31-year-old, from Thompson, was immediately arrested. He was later remanded into custody where he remains.

Thompson RCMP continue to investigate.

Canadian-theme Trivia Nights, movies, nature walks and more.

Those are just some events planned at the Heritage North Museum this spring and summer.

Sarah Brown, Administrative Coordinator for the Museum talks about one of their main events.

“The primary event that we have during the summer is our flea market. We are inviting local crafters and small businesses to set up a table and bring their wares down to the museum to sell. We’ll also have hotdogs, music and tons of different activities for the kids. The market runs every Saturday during June and July and it’s an amazing fundraiser for the museum.”

Brown adds there will be family movie nights, seniors evenings outdoors on the lawn, and community bake-offs held during the summer.

Information about all the activities and events can be found on the Heritage North Museum facebook page.

Learn more about what the Heritage North Museum has to offer. Catch Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

This is National Nursing Week.

It began on Monday, May 12th which is also International Nursing Day and the birthday of Florence Nightingale who is a well-known symbol of the nursing profession.

Bruce Krentz, Health Promotion Coordinator with the Northern Health Region, acknowledges the impact of nurses everywhere.

“In all of those communities and in every health care setting, nurses are making a difference in the lives of patients, residents, clients and coworkers. This is a chance for us to highlight the incredible accomplishments and meaningful contributions that they bring to help their teams and deliver their services across the province.”  

The 2025 theme is The Power of Nurses to Transform Health, reminding us how nurses shape better outcomes and healthier futures wherever they are.

Krentz said this was especially evident during the pandemic.

University College of the North collaborates with students and industry to help them make the perfect employer and employee match.

Tim Gibson, Manager of the Workforce Development Centre at UCN explains the benefits to both provided by the Centre.

“It helps with timely training at a location and price point that makes sense. Employers are looking for skilled employees who also have the desire to continue learning, grow with the job and the career, which is perfect for us to help with. Professional development courses are also offered, an example of that would be Project Management or Leadership Techniques.”

Gibson said that currently they are finding a high demand in the Heavy Equipment Operator job category.

He said candidates in the UCN program can find employment in a variety of areas including road construction, open pit mines, winter road maintenance, sand and gravel operations and even doing various maintenance functions for major utilities.

Learn more about the upcoming session for the Heavy Equipment Operator Certificate Program.  Go to ucn.ca or catch Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

The Thompson Wildlife Association provides support to the local clubs affiliated with them such as the archery club, junior rifle club and handgun club.

They also look after the indoor range facility, the outdoor firearms range south of Thompson and an archery range north of the city.

Local Association member and firearm safety instructor Shaun Harman, talks here about an upcoming event being hosted for group members.

“This will be the third year of offering what I like to call the Room Fire Challange. It’s an opportunity for people to come out. We’ll shoot our .22 Rifles, room fire rifles, in five stages; each stage will have targets at various distances and we’ll also shoot from various positions.”

The event starts at 10 am this Saturday at the outdoor range and is open to all association members. Ages 12 to 16 are welcome but require a parent or guardian.

Such events typically take place monthly.

For more on the Thompson Wildlife Association catch Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10 pm.

The first reading to rescind one of the City’s governance bylaws was passed at Monday’s Regular Meeting of Council.

In April, the bylaw was amended to remove item number 4 from the agenda which related to Community Comments Feedback.

Councillor Duncan Wong made a written motion to rescind the bylaw.  Here, he explains why.

“When the by-law approved, I had several people approach me privately and say “This is not right.” So it inspired me to do this.”

Wong said he liked the idea of the Town Hall meetings that were suggested as an alternative to the Community Comments.

But, he added that he felt they would not always be held in a timely enough manner to address certain issues.

He gave the example of discussing snow clearing issues in the summer.

A large crowd attended Monday’s meeting in a show of support for Wong’s motion.

Our vision and eye health can change quickly due to a number of factors.

Those include how much time we spend in front of computers and other screens, exposure to the sun and UV rays, and environmental factors such as pollution.

Dr. Mona Dragher (Dragger), President of the Canadian  , has advice on how to manage our screen time to protect our vision.

“I recommend the 20/20/20 rule which means every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break and look 20ft away. Other things you can do is adjust your screen brightness, keep a healthy distance from the monitor, blink more frequently and use artificial tears when you are using your screen to prevent dryness.”

Dragher says 82 per cent of parents are concerned about the impact of screen time on their children’s eye health.

She says children, even those who aren’t verbal, should have their vision checked by an eye care professional to address any visions issues early.

Catch the interview with Dr. Dragher at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon or go to: seethepossibilities.ca, the official website of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society.

At last Monday’s Committee of the Whole meeting,  a motion was made to rescind an organizational and procedural  by-law that was changed earlier this year.

On City Beat last week, Mayor Colleen Smook, said the revision made in April to the by-law removed the agenda item called Community Comments Feedback.

She explains here why the change was made.

“Due to the lack of number of people in the audience and with the uptake on people that are following us on zoom, we are going to switch over to our town hall meetings every couple of months. Some of the councillors weren’t happy with that so I’m assuming this is maybe where this is coming from.”

Smook said the Town Hall meetings would be held at a minimum of every three months, alternating through the local schools.

These meetings would be open to all residents and would offer members of the public a chance to ask questions, raise concerns, and receive updates on matters of interest from City Hall.

Those who were opposed to the change included Councillors Chong, Sawh and Wong.

The first reading to repeal the by-law amendment takes place tonight at the regular meeting of council at 7 pm.

The Manitoba RCMP reminds everyone to be aware of burning restrictions in many municipalities throughout the province and that officers will arrest and charge individuals who choose to ignore these fire bans.

Two Arson arrests have already been made by the Manitoba RCMP:

On May 7, 2025, a 55-year-old male from Lake Manitoba First Nation was charged with Arson after he started a controlled burn that quickly got out of control and created a wildfire that spread to over 200 acres.

Also on May 7, 2025, a 46-year-old male from Fort Alexander was charged with Arson after his controlled burn also got out of control and resulted in damage to a residence and the burning of a shed.

“These fires could have been prevented and should not have been started. Lives and communities are being put at risk,” said Cpl. Melanie Roussel of the Manitoba RCMP. “Our officers will strictly enforce all laws related to burning restrictions that are in place across the province; this is for the safety of all Manitobans.”

A list of municipalities with burning restrictions can be found at: https://www.gov.mb.ca/wildfire/burn_conditions.html

The RCMP is working closely with the Province of Manitoba’s Emergency Management Organization, the Manitoba Wildlife Service and the Office of the Fire Commissioner.

On May 8, 2025, at approximately 8:00 pm, Treherne RCMP received a request for assistance from the Sandy Bay Fire Department after a boat became stranded on Lake Manitoba.

Officers were advised that a 41-year-old male and a 22-year-old male, both from Sandy Bay First Nation, had launched a boat from behind the water treatment plant in the community earlier in the day.

Officers were also informed that the boat suffered a malfunction, and due to high winds, the fire department could not launch their own boat to assist the men. A short time later, a bystander on the beach witnessed both men in the water attempting to swim towards the shore. 

The men were last seen in the water southeast of Halls Beach, approximately 200 meters from shore. Neither of the men were wearing life jackets.

Underwater Recovery Teams from both the Manitoba RCMP and the Saskatchewan RCMP are deploying. They are being assisted by the Manitoba First Nation Police Service and the Sandy Bay Fire Department.

On May 9, 2025, at approximately 9:00 am, the body of the 22-year-old male was located deceased on shore.

The search for the 41-year-old male continues.

The 62nd annual Manitoba Provincial Mine Rescue Competition will be hosted in Thompson by Vale and the Mining Association of Manitoba on May 23rd  and 24th.

The event will take place at T-3 Mine.

Marc Scaddan is Vale’s Mine Rescue Captain and he talks here about the competition.

“The competition, it just tests the skills of all the mine rescue stations against each other as well as to familiarize the teams with each other. We have a mutual aid agreement where we would respond to other mines if they required help.”

The competition includes an underground scenario, a first-aid scenario, a written test, and the use of various fire-fighting equipment.

The competition wraps up with the Skills event which will be held on Saturday, May 24th at the TRCC, starting at 1 pm. The public is encouraged to attend.

Hear more about the Competition and the local team that will be participating on Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

The following material includes details about sexual assault that could be upsetting or traumatizing to members of the public. Reader's judgement is advised.

On May 7, 2025, at approximately 1:15 am, Thompson RCMP received a report of sexual assault at a residence on Ashberry Place.

Officers responded immediately and when they arrived on scene, were advised that a female teen victim had fled to a neighbours while the male suspect was still at the victim’s residence.

Police were able to arrest the male without incident in the victim’s residence.

An initial investigation has determined the 49-year-old male suspect, who was known to the victim, broke into the residence while she was asleep and sexually assaulted the teen.

The victim was alone at the time of the break-in and was able to escape with no physical injuries.

The 49-year-old male has been remanded and charged with the following:

- Sexual Assault

- Sexual Interference

- Forcible Confinement

- Invitation to Sexual Touching

- Breaking and Entering

Thompson RCMP continue to investigate.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the Northern Health Region has launched a new service to help youth.

Bruce Krentz, Health Promotions Co-ordinator with the NHR has the details.

“We are really excited to be launching a centralized youth, mental health intake number, fax number and email. That’s for community and crisis services for youth aged 17 and under throughout the Northern Health Region.”

Krentz believes this service will improve access to mental health and substance use resources for youth and adolescents.

The toll-free number is 1-866-242-1571, the fax is 204-778-1766 or you can email youthmentalhealth@nrha.ca.

These are now the primary contacts throughout the entire Northern Health Region and can be accessed for crisis services through to community services.

Multiple Sclerosis or MS, is often called Canada’s disease because of the high rate of Canadians diagnosed with the condition.

While research into the causes of the disease and new treatments is ongoing, it is also costly.

Peter Frigo, a local teacher in Thompson, will participate in The Pas’ upcoming MS Walk fund raiser on Sunday, May 25th.

Frigo talks here about his reasons for getting involved.

“There are two very special people in my life who were affected by MS. My brother Martin died last October due to COVID, however with MS being an autoimmune disease, I strongly feel that the principal underlying factor in his untimely death was the MS.”  

The other person in Frigo’s life who suffered from MS was his long-time friend, Monique Couture.

If you want to support him in the MS Walk, reach out to Frigo at 204-778-3115 and he can text you the link to his fund raising page.

You can also hear more about MS by tuning in to Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

On May 2, 2025, at approximately 11:00 am, Cross Lake RCMP conducted a traffic stop on a pickup truck within the community.

Officers approached the vehicle, with two male occupants, and spoke with the driver. In speaking with him, officers noted an odour of cannabis within the vehicle as well as other drug-related paraphernalia.

The 21-year-old driver and 37-year-old passenger, both from Winnipeg, were placed under arrest.

A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of approximately 400 grams of a substance believed to be cocaine, over 10,000 illegal cigarettes, a small quantity of cash and other drug-related paraphernalia.

Chukwuemeka Mwannemelu, 21, and Colin Saunders, 37, were remanded into custody on charges of  Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking and Possess 25 or more units of unmarked Tobacco under the Tax Administration and Miscellaneous Taxes Act (TAMTA).

Cross Lake RCMP continue to investigate.

Smook Contractors has been successful in getting approval for a temporary construction camp just outside of Thompson.

Their initial application for a General Permit was refused back in October 2024, but they addressed the need for this camp for their workers as they are the local provider of aggregate for all civil construction in Thompson and the region.

They also received letters of support from Vale, the Thompson Regional Airport Authority and Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure, all who have active contracts with Smooks.

On City Beat yesterday, Deputy Mayor Louis Fitzpatrick said that the temporary camp would support local businesses, as well.

“They only use local contractors as much as they can, they are hiring local cooks, cleaning, maintenance staff. Groceries and what not, airpods or propane required and septic services, all of that will be feeding up local services.”

The camp will provide accommodations and food services to the workers on a 24-hour basis.

There was opposition to the camp from a couple local apartment rental companies stating that there are plenty of vacant apartments available already.

Today, 102.9 CHTM’s 34^th Annual Trade Show and Sale kicks off at 4 o’clock.

You can expect an arena filled with local and out-of-town vendors providing a wide variety of goods and services. 

There will also be non-profit organizations at the show, looking to provide you with information about what they do.

The show will run today from 4 until 9 pm, tomorrow from ten until eight, and Sunday from eleven until three.

Everything is taking place at the C.A. Nesbitt Arena.    Admission is free.

Mental Health Awareness Week takes place throughout Canada next week.

Jen Whalen, the Mental Health Promotions Specialist for the Northern Health Region, explains the theme for Mental Health Awareness Week which is “Unmasking Mental Health.”

“Masking is hiding or suppressing something about yourself. That could be your emotions or some symptoms you might be experiencing and it’s something that people do to cope and to stay safe and fit in. Sometimes people do it and don’t even realize they are doing it.”

Whalen says people wear their mask and say they are fine and doing well when they may be struggling with their mental health.

Reasons for doing so include fear of losing their job, their housing or even their friends.

The NHR has partnered up with the Canadian Mental Health Association to bring free activities to the community next week.

The calendar of events can be found at the CMHA office at 43 Fox Bay or by calling 204-677-6051.