Mild fall weather has been a bonus for the 2026 Manitoba Winter Games committee.

After the heavy snowfall on the Thanksgiving weekend brought down trees across the cross-country ski trail to be used for the competition, there was concern further snow would impede their ability to clear off the trail.

Luckily, the trail has been cleared and is ready for the Winter Games in March.

Ian Graham, Communications Manager for the City of Thompson has more about the Games.

“They are still looking for volunteers, anyone who wants to volunteer can go to m.b.games.ca. You can check out the 2026 Manitoba Games host committee Facebook page and whether you can do one fifth or a bunch, every bit of help is appreciated.”  

To volunteer, go to m.b.games.ca or check out the  2026 Manitoba Winter Games host committee Facebook page.

Graham said you can also help by purchasing any of the Games merchandise or supporting their online 50-50 raffle.

Spirit Way is an award-winning pathway and biking route highlighting 16 unique points of interest, wolf statues, and the world's largest lighted mural of a Robert Bateman painting.

The idea for the project came about in 2003 and grew to the point where it was once rated as one of the "Top 20 Places to Visit in Manitoba".

Volker Beckmann, one of the project’s volunteers, talks about the idea behind the project.

“We said, well let’s come up with something that would showcase assets for the community in a superlative way so can we find the biggest of this or the best of that. That’s how we started brainstorming ideas of what we can showcase or show off our community.”

This Saturday, Volker Beckmann will hold a book launch for his book titled “The Spirit Way Story.”

It takes place at 1:30 at the Thompson Public Library.

Shoppers looking online for great deals this holiday season are strongly encouraged by Manitoba RCMP to be on the lookout for scams designed to empty their bank accounts and steal their personal information.

“Most Manitobans look forward to the holiday season, with many shopping online to find the perfect gift for loved ones. Unfortunately, there are criminals lurking online who are using increasingly sophisticated methods to take advantage of that good will and steal people’s money and personal information,” said Staff Sgt. Kevin Cavanagh, of the Manitoba RCMP’s cyber and financial crime unit.

“We strongly encourage Manitobans to be educated about the dangers lurking online, so they can be vigilant in protecting themselves.”

Online scams can be basic and straightforward, such as phishing texts that claim package deliveries are delayed or that payment information needs to be verified. They can also be sophisticated, with ads placed on social media that direct people to fake websites that mimic legitimate retailers and travel agencies offering incredible deals. Even charities can be impersonated, with people encouraged to give money to charities that don’t actually exist.

There are things Manitobans should look out for to avoid being scammed. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre recommends you look carefully for spelling errors in texts or on websites, references to a product as “the item,” overseas buyers who are looking to buy without seeing the product first and sellers with recently created social media profiles. Shoppers should also be cautious about supposed “blowout” sales or greatly reduced prices posted online – the product you receive may be a counterfeit, if you receive it at all.

Further steps Manitobans can take include:

• Knowing the market value of the product they’re looking for;
• Locating and verifying the sellers’ contact information before purchasing;
• Looking for customer reviews and ratings from third-party sources;
• Using a payment method with fraud protection, such as credit cards;
• Providing the payment in person whenever possible;
• Reviewing all email information to ensure it’s coming from a legitimate source; and
• Not clicking on ads that sound too good to be true – use a trusted search engine instead to locate the seller and research if they are a vendor you should trust.

If you or someone you know has been defrauded, report it to the RCMP or your local police service. Your report can help identify links, catch criminals and prevent further frauds.

Please also report it to the National Cybercrime and Fraud Reporting System, which serves as a central repository of fraud and cybercrime reports from across the country. Reports can be filed here: Report Cybercrime and Fraud | National Cybercrime and Fraud Reporting System.

The Northern Health Region is offering free prenatal classes with a registered midwife for expectant mothers 27 weeks and further along in their pregnancies.

Bruce Krentz, Health Promotion Coordinator with the NHR, has details on what to expect.

“Participants are welcome to bring one support person or partner and it’s designed to help you feel confident, informed and prepared for labour, birth and the early days of caring for your newborn.”

Classes will be held  in Room 141 on the main floor of the Administration building next to the hospital.

They run from 6 to 8 pm on December 2nd, 9th and 18th.

For more information call 204-677-1760.

Small businesses have faced uncertainty this year in operating their businesses due to the tariff situation with the United States and consumers cutting back on spending.

That means this holiday shopping season will be crucial to businesses and whether they close out the year in the black or in the red.

Ryan Mallough, Vice President of Legislative Affairs for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business shares how shoppers can help.

“We all know about Black Friday and Cyber Monday but what we want people to focus on is Small Business Saturday right in between the two. That is the day where we encourage business owners across the country to kick off that holiday shopping season, promote some discounts and have people in the store but we really encourage consumers to shop local.”

Mallough added that 66 cents of every dollar spent locally stays in our community.

In comparison, only 9 cents from the online stores such as Amazon stay local.

Learn more about Small Business Saturday. Tune in to Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

Taking a product from an idea, making it a reality and then selling it takes a lot of time and  commitment.

And it’s one thing to create something, but it may not be in everyone’s wheel house to market that product or service.

That’s where the Artists, Artisan, Crafters and Small Business Expo hosted by Community Futures North Central Development and Thompson Neighborhood Renewal Corporation comes in.

It gives these home-based businesses a chance to sell their products directly to the end-user.

Oswald Sawh, Executive Director of the TNRC adds another benefit to vendors at the Expo.

“When we do our walk about at the Trade Show, we always say that you know what, if you ever need any advise or if you need any supports that we are able to do, by all means, we have a very open door policy where these crafters can contact us after.”

For more on how you can participate as a vendor and for show information, tune in to Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10.

On November 23, 2025, at approximately 2:30 pm, Swan River RCMP responded to a report where an unknown male believed to be intoxicated, had locked himself in the bathroom in the Emergency Room at the Swan Valley Health Centre.

When officers arrived on scene, they opened the door and discovered the male suspect, who was known to them, holding a knife. The suspect was not a patient in the hospital.

Despite repeated commands for the suspect to drop the knife, he did not comply. A Conducted Energy Weapon (Taser) was deployed and was effective in taking the 45-year-old man into custody.

The suspect from Sapotaweyak Cree Nation sustained a minor injury from his weapon prior to police arrival. He was treated at the hospital and then taken into custody. He is charged with the following:

• Possession of a weapon for dangerous purposes

Swan River RCMP continue to investigate.

Students of R.D. Parker Collegiate and Wapanohk Community School are gradually making use of the school bus services now available.

Danny Morris, the Transportation Lead for the School District of Mystery Lake buses, has an update.

“For the highschool, we could have up to 265 but right now, we are running 45 to 60 students riding the bus.”

Morris said between 40 to 50 Wapanohk School students ride the bus in the morning, with around 60 to 80 students using the bus at home time.

He added that the equipment to run the app arrived last week and is set to be programmed this week.

He estimates it will be up and running by early December to provide real-time update on the buses location to parents and students.

What you need to know before you go!

That’s the name of a 2-day conference being hosted by the Thompson Seniors Community Resource Council on January 27th and 28th.

Penny Byer, the Program Coordinator for the Seniors Council says the conference will address topics many of us are reluctant to talk about or ones we haven’t thought about.

“We’ll have what we call the legal stuff, these things about wills and executors and investments and donations. What do you do with all of these things and how can you have everything set up before you pass so that the people you leave behind don’t have any major issues.”

Other topics include palliative care, health care directives, funeral arrangements, medically assisted dying, grieving, and pitfalls and problems that can result from lack of planning.

Byer said registration is required.  She can be reached at thompsonseniors55@gmail.com.

More details are available on Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

On City Beat yesterday, Mayor Colleen Smook responded to a listener question regarding the Keewatin Tribal Council’s Pusiko Development, formerly known as the Yale Newman Policy Area.

The 89-acre parcel of land was purchased for development by KTC from the City of Thompson in June 2023.

The listener asked if a public hearing on the development would be held.

Smook responds here.

“Now that KTC are the owners of the land, the City of Thompson planning zoning requirements must be adhered to before any development and most zoning changes will require a public hearing under provincial legislation."

KEDC Corporation, KTC’s economic development agency has plans for an office building, a tribal health centre, plus a hotel and conference centre.

They intend to establish 384 housing units, including some affordable housing, assisted living and personal care home spaces, over 7 to 10 years.

During Diabetes Awareness Month, the Canadian Ophthalmological Society is sounding the alarm about diabetic retinopathy.

The condition, if left undetected and untreated, can cause a variety of vision issues, including blindness.

Dr. Mona Dagher , the President of the COS, has more details.

“Across Canada, about 3.7 million people are living with diabetes. Roughly one fourth will have some degree of diabetic retinopathy and in Manitoba particularly, screening programs have found a very similar rate. About 25 percent of people with diabetes show some signs of retinopathy when they are imaged.”

Dagher said that early diabetic retinopathy often has no symptoms, so regular eye checkups are necessary to detect the condition early so that treatment can begin.

Tune in to Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10 to learn more about diabetic retinopathy, how it’s detected and the treatments available.

With over 400 fire hydrants in the City of Thompson, it’s a huge task to keep them clear of snow over the winter.

Fire Chief Dennis Benson is encouraging local residents, groups, and businesses to Adopt-a-Hydrant from December 1st to May 1st, to help with that.

Here Benson shares the benefits of this program.

“When you have a program such as this in place, the hydrants gets regular attention and people are keeping an eye on them so we can detect damages earlier and if there are leaking hydrants, we can have crews out to repair them, those kinds of things.”

Those adopting a hydrant are asked to keep a 3-foot clearance around it and a path from the street to the hydrant.

Learn more about the Adopt-a-Hydrant program and how you can participate by tuning in to Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

On November 16, 2025, at 12:40 am, officers from God’s Lake Narrows RCMP received a report from a First Nation Safety Officer that a 20-year-old male had been brought to the Nursing Station for medical care after consuming multiple drinks of a liquid substance.

Officers attended the Nursing Station, where a large crowd had gathered, and were informed that the 20-year-old male had been pronounced deceased and that two other males (17,15) who had also consumed the substance were in medical distress and being flown to Winnipeg for treatment.

The preliminary investigation has uncovered that there were possibly 10 additional persons who had consumed the substance but had been medically treated and released.

A container of the substance consumed has been located and seized by police for further analysis.

The provider of the substance has been identified.

God’s Lake Narrows RCMP and Manitoba RCMP Major Crime Services continue to Investigate.

November is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the perfect time to launch the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

The 16 Days start on November 25th and ends on December 10th, which is Human Rights Day.

This year’s theme is “Unite to End Digital Violence against all Women and Girls.”

Mary Demare, the Outreach Worker for the Thompson Crisis Centre shares who are most targeted by digital violence.

“Digital violence targets women more than men across all walks of life but especially those with public or online visibility such as activists, journalists, women in politics, human right defenders and young women.”  

Some elements of digital abuse include cyberbullying, trolling and online threats; doxxing or publishing private information; online grooming and sexual exploitation, and catfishing and impersonation.

For more on the 16 Days of Activism and local activities, catch Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

While many parents joke that every day is kids day, there is an official National Child Day.

Thirty-four years ago, Canada designated November 22nd as this day, making the commitment to ensure that children are treated with dignity and respect.

Ashley Grzebniak with the Hello Parents Network of Thompson talks here about the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

“The convention on the Rights of the Child lists 54 articles or rights that children are entitled too. Some examples include children have the right to be loved and protected from harm, the right to food, clothing and a safe place to live and a good quality education as well.”

The convention, adopted in 1989 by the United Nations, lists 54 rights children are entitled to.

National Child Day will be celebrated on November 22nd at the TRCC, following the City’s Christmas Parade.

For more on the day and the activities taking place, catch Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

Since 1995, the Thompson Community Foundation has provided just over $2.5 million in grants to support over 100 local organizations and their projects.

Oswald Sawh, Executive Director of the Thompson Neighborhood Renewal Corporation, is working with the TCF to promote the Endow Manitoba Giving Challenge.

He talks about what it is here.

“So for every $5 raised locally, the Winnipeg foundation and the province of Manitoba will match $2 to a maximum of $4000 so this year, our goal is to raise $10,000 locally which will give us the maximum donation. The funds raised will, of course, all go towards our pool of  funds that we give out to local organizations in the way of grants.”

The Challenge runs all this week, from November 10th to 16th.

The TCF will have calendars on sale this week at various locations for $25 each.  Buy one and receive a charitable tax receipt while supporting Our Foundation Thompson.

Hear more about the TCF and how you can donate to support it. Catch Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

For the first time this season the U-15 AAA Norman Northstars will be playing games at the Whitney Forum right here in Flin Flon.

The Northstars will host the Eastman Selects in a pair of games Saturday at 7pm  and Sunday at 10:30.

There will be a 50/50, silver collection and merch all available.

The Northstars are sitting at 1-10-1 on the season and have three players from Flin Flon including forwards Bentley Crone and Dex Tetlock and defenseman Parker Meikle. 

Thompson residents, businesses and community groups are being asked to adopt-a-hydrant and keep it clear of snow and debris.

Fire Chief Dennis Benson shares how you can join in the program.

“The program is running from December 1st and is going to run through to May 1st, which is going to be the grand prize draw date. They have until the 30th of November to register.”

Once you sign up, you then make sure the hydrant you’ve adopted has three feet of clearance in each direction and a visible path from the street.

Fire and Emergency Services is undertaking this project to cut down on the time it can take to locate a hydrant in an emergency situation.

To register your hydrant, email TFES@thompson.ca or call the fire department at 204-677-7916.

The City of Thompson and local organizations were among the first in Canada to acknowledge Aboriginal Veterans Day, now known as National Indigenous Veterans Day.

The day has been commemorated on November 8th since 1993, after the National Aboriginal Veterans Association identified the need to have a special day the year before.

Paul Thomson, Director General for the Commemoration Division of Veterans Affairs, has more.

“It’s a unique opportunity and a special opportunity to specifically salute and recognize Indigenous service members and that’s a group that has often been overlooked despite their remarkable tradition of Indigenous service in uniform over the years.”

To hear more about Indigenous Veterans Day and many of the heroic Indigenous servicemen and women, catch Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

The School District of Mystery Lake recently launched bus service for R.D. Parker Collegiate and Wapanohk Community School students.

Currently, two buses are managing the R.D. Parker school routes.

Here is Danny Morris, the Transportation Lead for the District with details.

“Right now, we are basically running around eight routes during each day. In the mornings, I have 2 to go to R.D. Parker, we have 2 routes that are leaving R.D. Parker and plus I’m looking after the off campus students as well.”

Morris says a bus contracted from First Student Bus Lines is handling the Wapanohk School routes for now, with two in the morning and again in the afternoonn.

He added that school districts are required to provide bus service to students living 1.6 kilometres or farther from school, whenever possible.

Morris said that the schedules and routes are changing quickly to adapt to the needs of the riders, but noted there will soon be an app that students and parents can download so they can have real-time information about where the buses are.

This is Diabetes Awareness Month.

Educating yourself on the condition and being aware that people of all ages are dealing with it is an important step.

Bruce Krentz with the Northern Health Region shares some details here.

“Seven in ten adults living with diabetes are of a working age so diabetes in the work place is something that we don’t talk about and sometimes people feel a little anxiety or depression or other mental health conditions because of it.”

Krentz said we should support our co-workers with diabetes and ask them how we can help them to manage the disease, especially at the work place.

He added that whether you have diabetes or any other condition, that you should ask your health care provider questions about it so you can understand and treat it better.

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) expresses deep concern over the federal government’s “Building Canada Strong” Budget 2025, which places heavy emphasis on nation-building projects and resource extraction while failing to meaningfully engage with Manitoba’s northern First Nations. MKO asserts that no progress can be made on resource development without the full recognition of Treaty Rights, environmental stewardship, and guaranteed long-term benefits for First Nations.

While the budget includes investments in water infrastructure and housing, critical needs in the North, it omits funding for important programs Chiefs need to safeguard their Nations.

•             The budget promises 1000 new RCMP members, but no mention of support for First Nations-led policing strategy, even as drugs and crime infiltrate northern First Nations.

•             There are no new commitments to support the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to find and protect ancestors lost to the residential school system.

•             There are no new supports for MMIWG2S+ programs, as the numbers of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples continues to grow.

The government’s decision to impose a two percent savings target on Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, and Indigenous Services Canada, raises serious questions about how essential services will be maintained. Grand Chief Garrison Settee stated:

 “How can the federal government claim to uphold reconciliation while cutting funding to the very departments responsible for delivering essential services to our Nations?”

MKO welcomes the doubling of the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program to $10 billion and the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s Indigenous Equity Initiative, but cautions that economic reconciliation must not be conditional on First Nations’ participation in resource extraction.

Grand Chief Settee said “Our Nations will not be sidelined or coerced into partnerships that ignore our rights and priorities. Reconciliation must be built on respect, justice, and meaningful engagement, not on conditional investments tied to resource extraction. We will continue to stand firm in defence of our people, our lands, and our future.”

A link to the online store is available on the 2026 Manitoba Games Host Committee facebook page.

Cristy Andres, co-chair of the organizing committee, shares some of the items for purchase.

“We have hoodies with the games logo or our tagline logo available as well as long sleeved and short sleeved t-shirts, toques, bags, we also have adult sizes as well as youth sizes in the store.”

The current online store will take orders until November 9th, so that they will be received in time for Christmas gift-giving.

Another online store will be launched right after November 9th for those not concerned about a Christmas deadline.

Andres also said that merchandise will be available for sale during the Games, which take place March 1st to 7th.

Get more details about Games merchandise and volunteer opportunities on Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10.

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc. (MKO) acknowledges the Manitoba government’s investment in a feasibility study to assess northern infrastructure needs in support of critical mineral sector development.

While this initiative signals potential economic opportunities, MKO Grand Chief Garison Settee emphasizes that “any development in northern Manitoba must begin with respectful and meaningful engagement with First Nation leadership. These lands are governed by Treaty rights, and First Nations are not stakeholders, they are rights holders. Our leadership must be recognized as full and equal partners in shaping the future of mineral development for northern Manitoba.”

MKO calls on the Manitoba government, the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB), and the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce to co-develop a framework with First Nations that guides this feasibility study and all subsequent planning. This framework must uphold Treaty obligations, ensure free, prior, and informed consent, and reflect the priorities and knowledge of First Nations.

Infrastructure development and resource extraction cannot proceed without the inclusion of First Nations in decision-making processes. MKO is committed to working collaboratively to ensure that any development is sustainable, inclusive, and beneficial to First Nations, not only economically, but socially, culturally, and environmentally.

We look forward to working with the province and its partners to build a future that respects Treaty rights and advances reconciliation through true partnership. For decades our Nations have been identifying the needs for infrastructure and development, they cannot be ignored. Having their input and decisions are the only way to move this forward

On November 1, 2025, at 5:15 am, Flin Flon RCMP received a report of a 41-year-old male, from Flin Flon, having entered the hospital suffering from a gunshot wound.

Officers attended and spoke with the victim however not many details were disclosed other than it occurred in Flin Flon. The victim was later flown to Winnipeg in unstable condition where he remains.

Flin Flon RCMP are actively investigating this matter.

Anyone who may have information in regards to this shooting is asked to call the Flin Flon RCMP at 204-687-1422, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

Do you delay reaching out to government agencies because of poor service, incorrect information or delays in getting responses?

If so, you’re not alone.

A recent survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business found that of 5 agencies reviewed, respondents gave a high quality of service rating only 18 per cent of the time, while timeliness of responses came in at only 17 per cent.

Michelle Auger, the Director of Trade and Marketplace Competitiveness for the CFIB comments.

“Federal government departments need to be publishing transparent and ambitious service standards across all their departments. Right now, we are seeing that there is sort of a lack of standardization of what those service standards look like and they are so hard to find from department to department.”  

Auger acknowledged the Carney government’s pledge to reduce spending and downsize the public service, after years of seemingly unchecked growth.

The new report is available at cfib.ca.

Or hear more by tuning in to Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

On October 30, 2025, at 5:15 pm, Oxford House RCMP received a report from First Nation Safety Officer’s that a 34-year-old female, who was attempting to board a flight to Winnipeg, had been searched prior to her boarding the aircraft which led to the discovery of two sealed packages believed to contain a large amount of Canadian currency.

The 34-year-old female was placed under arrest and transported to the Oxford House RCMP Detachment and turned over to police.

The two sealed packages, which are believed to contain approximately $16,500 in cash, were turned over to RCMP and seized.

The 34-year-old female was later released for a court appearance scheduled for January 15, 2026, in the community where she will face a charge of Laundering Proceeds or Crime.

Oxford House RCMP continue to investigate.