Over 255-thousand dollars has been raised and donated to local charities and their projects, thanks to 100 Women Who Care Thompson.

Kim Rudolph, President of the local group explains here how the funds are awarded.

“100 Women Who Care was started in November 2006 by Karen Dunigan of Jackson Michigan, as a simple way to raise money quickly and efficiently for local charities. Since then, chapters have formed all over the world. There are now more than 900 chapters and they include women, men, kids and teen chapters.”

100 Women Who Care Thompson is set to celebrate its 10th anniversary in March and they are looking to reach a membership of 100 Women by that time.

Currently, Rudolph says the club has around 80 members who support this fund raising endeavour.

Learn more about 100 Women Who Care by tuning in to Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

On January 24, 2026, at 7:35 am, officers from the Oxford House RCMP Detachment, who were out in the community, received a report of an attempted arson at an occupied building on Airport Road.

Officers attended immediately and met with Anishinaabe PeaceKeepers who advised that they had one male in custody and that they were attempting to locate a second male suspect.

Information provided on scene was that the Anishinaabe PeaceKeepers, who were in the building at the time, heard a window break in a nearby room. When they went to investigate, they discovered a machete, with a burning rag attached to it, had been thrown thru the window and landed on a table. A burning plastic jug with gas was also found on the floor. The fires were immediately extinguished with minimal damage done to the property.

Two suspects were seen by the Anishinaabe PeaceKeepers fleeing the scene on foot. An 18-year-old male was apprehended a short distance away and turned over to the RCMP. Officers continue to search for the second suspect.

The 18-year-old male suspect, who was noted to be suffering from frostbite injuries to his hands, was released from police custody for a future court appearance and taken to the Nursing Station where he was later flown out of the community to Thompson for further medical treatment. The accused will face charges of Arson disregard for human life and two counts of Fail to comply with probation.

RCMP are asking anyone who may have further information on this arson or who can assist in identifying the second suspect is asked to contact the Oxford House Detachment at 204-538-2046.

Oxford House RCMP continue to investigate.

On January 27, 2026, at 10:15 am, Leaf Rapids RCMP received a request for assistance from staff at the Health Centre within the community.

Information provided to police was that a male youth had entered the building requesting medical assistance but would not comply with requests from staff.

An officer arrived on scene and met with the youth in a room and attempted to speak with him and gather information.

The youth then pulled a knife and attacked the officer who suffered a stab injury to their hand and upper body. The officer then called for backup and requested assistance from staff members to safely take the suspect into custody.

After a lengthy struggle, including the deployment of a conducted energy weapon, and with assistance of staff, the youth was safely taken into custody and removed from the Health Centre.

The officer was treated for their injuries, and no other physical injuries were reported.

The 15-year-old, from Leaf Rapids, has been charged with:

• Assault cause bodily harm,
• Assault with a weapon,
• Posses weapon dangerous to public peace, and
• Carrying a concealed weapon.
   

He was remanded into custody.

Leaf Rapids RCMP continue to investigate.

Officially, Family Literacy Day is celebrated worldwide on January 27^th.

 

Thompson plans to celebrate it later.

 

Yosola Fagade, Community Health Developer for the Northern Health Region explains more.

 

“This year, the Hello Parents Network is once again partnered with the City of Thompson to hold this event in conjunction with Winterfest. On Saturday, February 21st from 9 to 11am, everyone is welcome to come and join us to celebrate literacy in the TRCC’s gym.”

 

For more information visit the Hello Parents Network of Thompson’s Facebook page and tune into Thompson Today this afternoon.

In cooperation with Roots of Hope, the Thompson Public Library and the Canadian Mental Health Association are hosting a series of upcoming wellness events this February.

 

First up is a community paint night at the Thompson Public Library on February 11th, running from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The drop-in event gives residents a chance to relax, get creative, and connect with others.

 

The Canadian Mental Health Association is also hosting two wellness-focused sessions.

 

A guided teaching lesson will take place February 6th from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., followed by a Journaling for Wellness workshop on February 19th from 1:30 to 3 p.m.

 

Both CMHA events will be held at the organization’s main office on Fox Bay.

 

For more information call 204-677-6051.

The Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology is winding down operations over the course of the next year.

The steep decline in international student enrolment is being blamed for the move as it makes their current financial model unsustainable.

The school provides training in a range of in-demand skills, from early childhood education to welding, carpentry and cybersecurity.

It also offers English-language classes and high school courses for Grade 11 and Grade 12 students and adult learners.

The provincial government decided to close MITT, and an undetermined number of programs will be transferred to RRC Polytech.

RRC Polytech president Fred Meier said there's some overlap between them and MITT in their offerings, and a review of the latter’s programs will determine which will be kept.

Manitoba has once again received a failing grade in the Canadian Federation of Independent Business 17th annual Red Tape Report Card.

Alberta once again led the country, with Ontario and Nova Scotia following as the top-performing provinces thanks to steady progress on regulatory modernization.

In stark contrast, Manitoba plummeted to last place with an “F” after repealing its “one-for-one” rule in 2024 and refusing to restore the Regulatory Accountability Act—moves that significantly undermined transparency and progress.

As other provinces continue pushing forward on red tape reduction, Manitoba is moving in the opposite direction, according to Tyler Slobogian, a Senior Policy Analyst with the CFIB.

He added that Manitoba must rebuild its commitment to reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses if they truly want to foster entrepreneurship and competitiveness.

On Monday, a City Council meeting was held. During the meeting there was mention of renegotiating a contract with GardaWorld at the Thompson Regional Community Centre.

 

The contract is set to expire early February.

 

While under contract with GardaWorld 2025 saw a 55% reduction in the number of incidents reported at the TRCC.

City of Thompson Councillor Oswald Sawh says that security is necessary.

 

“It’s sad to say that we have to have this level of security at probably the major gathering area in Thompson but it’s an unfortunate reality. As we learned by administration- having security at TRCC, we have seen a significant reduction, up to fifty five percent from year to year over three years, so we know it’s working.”

 

The City of Thompson is also trying to apply new schedules for the security guards and are willing to pay more to have security working on weekends.

January is Alzheimer Awareness Month.

 

Over half of Canadians shared how they’re worried about developing Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia, and two-thirds would worry about losing their independence if diagnosed.

 

Even more troubling, a quarter of Canadians say they would rather not know if they had dementia.

Erin Crawford, CEO at the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, explains how important Alzheimer Awareness Month is for people around the world.

 

“We know more about how to reduce our risk of dementia then we know about how to effectively treat dementia once you have it. Those of you who are listening today who aren’t thinking about Alzheimer’s disease, this month is an opportunity to say ‘Hey, you should’ because there are things you can do now to reduce your risk that you might not be aware of.”

 

For more information visit their website at alzheimer.mb.ca/ and tune into Thompson Today this afternoon.

Extreme cold across northern Manitoba is raising concerns about frostbite, as temperatures continue to sit well below seasonal averages.

 

Health officials say even short exposure to the cold can lead to serious injury if people aren’t prepared.

 

Dr. Eileen Burnett, Medical Officer of Health for Northern Manitoba, says frostbite can happen faster than many people realize.

 

“The risk of frostbite varies by how cold it is outside, the length of time that the skin is exposed to the cold, how windy it is, known as the wind chill, and the health of the individual who’s exposed. Also wet skin or clothing increases the risk of frostbite. The frostbite entries can occur with prolonged exposure once the air temperature falls below zero degrees Celsius however  the risk increases with colder temperatures, especially when it reaches minus fifteen degrees Celsius, with the risk increasing the colder it gets.”

 

Dr. Burnett says people should dress in warm layers, cover exposed skin, and limit time outdoors when temperatures or wind chills are dangerously low.

 

 She adds that anyone who suspects frostbite should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Government regulations and the paperwork that accompany them take up precious time for small businesses in Canada.

Red Tape Awareness Week brings those paperwork burdens to the forefront.

Tyler Slobogian, a Senior Policy Analyst with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, explains here.

“CFIB launched Red Tape Awareness Week because small business owners were very clear that excessive paperwork and confusing government rules were becoming one of the biggest obstacles to running their businesses. Entrepreneurs were spending countless hours dealing with forms, delays and really poor service instead of serving their customers and creating jobs like they are supposed to do.”

Yesterday, the CFIB shared that family physicians are hit the hardest by the administrative load.

Because of this, over half of doctors plan to cut their hours and 25% are considering early retirement.

Governments, hospitals and insurance companies should work together to eliminate unnecessary admin tasks, simplify insurer processes, and better integrate systems.

For more on Red Tape Awareness Week, tune in to Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon.

Over the weekend, all Canadian soldiers deployed to the Pimicikamak Cree Nation in northern Manitoba were set to be out of the community.

 

The federal government says the military mission to help the First Nation in the aftermath of its water crisis brought on by a power outage is now complete.

 

More than 13-hundred homes on the First Nation were damaged after a days-long power outage last month led to the failure of critical infrastructure. 

 

A government statement says evacuees are receiving accommodation, meals, health services and financial supports until it's safe to return home.

On Saturday The Thompson Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation recognized the community’s top volunteers at its Volunteer of the Year Awards.

 

Honours were handed out across several categories, including Youth Volunteer of the Year to Marlies Cook, Adult Volunteer to Charles Sehn, and Senior or Elder Volunteer to Esther Latchman.

 

The Overall Community Volunteer award went to Bobbi Montean, while the Thompson Health Auxiliary was recognized in the Not-for-Profit and Charity category.

 

Community group awards went to the Thompson Ski Club for winter programming and the Thompson Junior Soccer Association for summer programming.

 

Ouzzy Traore with McDonald’s received the Business Award, and the Manitoba Winter Games Thompson Committee was recognized for Special Projects.

 

Certificates of Special Recognition were also presented to Sandy Timmons, Molly Stapleton, Abbygail Enriquez, and Thompson Immigrant Services.

 

The TNRC says the awards celebrate the dedication and impact of volunteers who help strengthen the Thompson community.

Last Monday at the latest Committee of the Whole meeting, the Thompson Fire and Emergency Services reviewed ambulance coverage levels in their latest report.

 

One of the key figures highlighted was the number of “overlap” hours- times when both TFES ambulances were already on calls and no unit was immediately available.

 

In December, that total came to just over 138 hours. The figure does not include coverage provided by Shared Health.

 

Mayor Colleen Smook explains whether the situation is improving or becoming more of a concern.

 

“More than half of those hours occurred in the first four months of this year. We should note that, since May, there has only been one month where there was more than 10 hours of unavailability and that was in July when there was ten and a half hours. In 2024, there was more than one thousand hours.”

 

The mayor continued by stating the situation has greatly improved.

The Manitoba government is investing 16.8 million dollars into new research facilities at the University of Manitoba.

 

The funding will support the construction of two biological research centres aimed at boosting innovation, job creation, and hands-on learning for students.

 

One facility, the Prairie Biologics Accelerator at the Fort Garry campus, will focus on vaccine development and Bio-manufacturing.

 

The second, the One Health Emerging Respiratory Disease Centre at the Bannatyne campus, will feature secure labs for testing and research on high-risk pathogens.

 

The province says the investment will strengthen Manitoba’s role in biotechnology and pandemic preparedness, while creating new opportunities for researchers and students.

No one wants to wait for buses, especially in the cold weather we’ve had lately in Thompson.

With all the apps for the School District of Mystery Lake’s buses up and running, that’s no longer an issue.

Danny Morris, the Lead for the Bus Service, explains how it works.

“The easiest way to access those routes is if you just go onto the School District of Mystery Lake website. Scroll down a little bit and it will say pick your bus route, choose the route that you want for your student and as you push on the button to access that route, you will see exactly where your bus is and exactly what time it is going to be at your stop. There is no more guessing.”

If for some reason your bus is running late, the app will provide a real time update and there will also be a notification on the app if a bus isn’t running that day.

Morris says that currently the school buses are providing transportation for between four- and five-hundred students per day.

Today has been proclaimed Kawasaki Disease Awareness Day in Thompson by Mayor Colleen Smook.

Ray Solski, whose son Rylen passed away in 2020 due to a case of undiagnosed Kawasaki Disease, shares the importance of having this day recognized.

“Kawasaki disease is very rare and because of it’s rarity, it’s often not on the top of the mind so by making an official annual day, it’s going to help keep the disease and it’s warning signs in people’s minds for not just Thompson but across Northern Manitoba. We truly believe in our lifetime that this awareness will help save at least one life if it hasn’t already.”  

The Solski family holds the annual Rylen Solski Memorial Fishing Derby every summer as a fund raiser and to bring awareness about Kawasaki Disease.

To learn more about this rare childhood disease, go to kdcanada.org.  You can also listen to Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

On January 20, 2026, Gypsumville RCMP received information about drug trafficking at a property in Pinaymootang First Nation, Man.

 

Two days later, Gypsumville RCMP executed a search warrant at a property on School Road in Pinaymootang First Nation and arrested two males. Officers seized weapons, firearms, jewelry and gang member vests.

 

Tristan Baptiste, 25, and Wayne Kejick, 42, both from Winnipeg, have been charged and remanded in custody for:

 

• Possession of weapon for dangerous purpose x 3
• Possession of property obtained by crime x 2
• Possession of weapons contrary to order

 

Tristan Baptiste was also wanted for robbery.

 

Gypsumville RCMP continue to investigate.

On Monday, at a Committee of the Whole meeting, the RCMP said that Community Safety Officers are making a positive impact by taking some of the burden off them.

 

Mayor Colleen Smook explains more.

 

"We keep hearing from the RCMP how helpful our CSOs are, even down to as low as a couple of them but again, we are up to a compliment of four and they do definitely help the RCMP. At the Public Safety  Committee meeting yesterday, they show that they had lodged more then 300 people over the last year and dispensed of 4600 plus open bottles of liquor."

 

The RCMP stated they have lots of new recruits who have arrived and expect to be arriving soon

A new toolkit aimed at addressing anti-government hate is now being rolled out to municipalities across Manitoba.

 

The resource was developed through the Association of Manitoba Municipalities in partnership with the Strong Cities Network, following growing concerns about harassment and hostility directed at local leaders and municipal staff.

 

The toolkit was officially launched after discussions at the Strong Cities Network Global Summit in Toronto, where municipal leaders from across Canada and beyond shared similar concerns.

 

City of Thompson councillor and AMM president Kathy Valentino tells us why having this toolkit is so important for city officials and workers.

 

"The anti government hate, harassment and the bullying, it has to stop. We have to be strong about it and as municipal elected officals, we have to stand up for people that are facing this, we have to talk about it and we have to support those that are going through it."

 

Tomorrow is a night full of activities at the TRCC.

From 5 to 5:30 pm, drop by for the Thompson Neighborhood Renewal Corporation’s First Volunteer Awards ceremony.   Come out and celebrate community volunteers who will receive awards in one of seven various categories.

Also on tap for the evening, the Manitoba Games Committee will be on hand to sign up more volunteers for the games which begin on March 1st.     Volunteers are needed for food services, transportation, the warehouse, athletes villages,  and more.

And it’s time to cheer on our Nor-Man Northstars during Vale night, where all spectators get in for free.   Be sure to drop by their information booths and pick up some free swag.

It’s also a fund raiser for the Thompson Humane Society, who will have information on some of their available adoptees and how you can help them find a forever home.

Donations of cash, pet food and other supplies are also being accepted

The Thompson Festival of the Arts is marking its 60th anniversary in 2026, and registration is now open.

 

The festival begins with Piano, Strings, and Instrumental performances April 9th and 10th. That’s followed by Vocal, Choral, and Speech categories April 29th through May 1st.

Visual Arts runs May 4th to 7th, with public viewing on the evening of May 6th and all day May 7th.

 

The festival wraps up with the Hi-Lites Concerts on May 28th and 29th.

 

The registration deadline is February 21^st, for more information or to register, visit the festival’s Facebook page, contact your school representative, or email sdavis@mysterynet.mb.ca.

Bell Let’s Talk Day wrapped up yesterday and we are reminded how important someone’s mental health can be.

 

Jen Whalen, a Mental Health Coordinator for the Northern Health Region tells us some common sings that might indicate someone is struggling with their mental health.

 

“A sign that someone might be struggling might be anything that’s not typical for them. It could be that they are acting out of character, doing things that’s not typical such as withdrawing more, maybe they are not joining in with things that they used to like to enjoy. Maybe they liked to come out for sports or go out for coffee with a friend and now they aren’t doing that anymore.”

 

If you are dealing with depression and would like to seek help, Call a Mental Wellness & Recovery Program @ 1-866-242-1571 for children and adolescents, or call 204-677-5350 for adults.

Dear Minister Sala and Mr. Wilson,

On behalf of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc. (MKO) leadership, I am demanding a meeting to
address Manitoba Hydro’s ongoing failures and obligations to northern First Nations. The situation in
Pimicikamak Cree Nation represents not only a service breakdown but a pattern of systemic and
longstanding pattern of neglect that can no longer be dismissed, minimized, or deflected of Manitoba
Hydro’s obligations, ongoing impacts, and immediate responsibilities to First Nations. Direct
conversations regarding Pimicikamak Cree Nation, who continue to experience severe and unacceptable
disruptions in services, infrastructure reliability, and community safety which are all directly related to
Manitoba Hydro’s operations.

For decades, northern First Nations have faced the environmental, social and economic consequences of
hydroelectric development without receiving the standard of service, partnership, or respect that
Manitoba Hydro publicly commits to. Despite repeated attempts to engage constructively, First Nations
continue to face unsafe service interruptions, unresolved infrastructure deficiencies, and slow or
incomplete responses to critical community needs.

Manitoba Hydro administration’s recent media statement attempting to attribute the Cross Lake power
outage to alleged gunfire at a hydro line is unacceptable, irresponsible and inflammatory. This reckless
narrative not only distracts from Hydro’s operational shortcomings; it actively endangers community
members by creating public misconceptions and hostilities towards Pimicikamak Cree Nation citizens.
Such conduct is beneath the standard expected of a provincial Crown corporation and raises serious
concerns about Hydro’s governance culture and crisis management practices.

Given the urgency of the situation, please provide your availability within the next week as we intend to
proceed without delay. Please contact Dorothy Smith, Executive Assistant, to schedule the meeting date
and time.

You’re invited to take part in Bell Let’s Talk Day.

 

The Canadian Mental health association is hosting a drop in coffee and conversation meet that runs from 2 pm until 3pm.

 

Rona Campbell, Executive Director of the Canadian Mental Health Association told us more about the meet up.

 

"We are celebrating this day with coffee and connection and so we have a drop in session here at our connection club house located at 43 Fox Bay where you can come in and have some coffee and just share some simple conversation. Again, this is free, we just want to create that space."

 

TAG: For more information on the coffee and conversation event visit Canadian Mental Health Association’s Facebook page.

The countdown to the Manitoba Winter Games is on and Thompson residents are being encouraged to pitch in.

Harold Smith and Sandy Deibert, Co-Chairs of Athlete Services, said the behind-the-scenes work is ramping up and once the games begin on March 1st, volunteers will be key to their success.

Smith has more on the roles to be filled.

“A lot of the backbone of the games involves support for all the athletes; transportation, werehouse, food, the villages, access control, and some ground transportation.”

There will be a volunteer sign up event this Saturday at Vale Night for the Northstars.

Drop by the TRCC to sign up or get more details on volunteer opportunities.

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

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) offers condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues
of Dr. Barry Lavallee, a visionary leader who has always been a great support for First Nations people
in the North.

During the COVID?19 pandemic, when uncertainty was widespread and the world was shutting down,
Dr. Lavallee stood at the forefront of the crisis with unwavering commitment. He worked tirelessly to
ensure our Nations were protected and supported. His steady presence during critical information
briefings brought reassurance during a frightening time.
A fierce advocate for culturally safe care and health equity, Dr. Lavallee was a true champion of First
Nations health and wellbeing. This past summer, as thousands of northern people were displaced by
wildfires and forced into unfamiliar cities, he helped establish harm?reduction supports for those
struggling with addiction, ensuring no one was left behind.
MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee said Dr. Lavallee offered tremendous support for First Nations
people. He spent his long career working to dismantle colonial systems and end systemic racism in
healthcare.

“During the covid crisis Dr. Lavallee guided our Nations with a steady hand, without fear, ensuring
citizens from northern First Nations had priority to vaccinations. He reminded us of what true service
looks like and we will carry his teachings forward.”
MKO honours Dr. Lavallee’s extraordinary contributions for Indigenous people around the world, and
the profound impact he made across our Nations. We celebrate his life and his enduring legacy.

On Jan. 15, just after 9:35 p.m., Chemawawin RCMP responded to the first of several incidents over the next two days that resulted in four adult suspects facing a combined 42 charges.

 

The first incident involved a fight between one suspect and two other people at a home in the community. Officers arriving at the residence minutes later were not able to locate any of the involved parties.

 

Soon after, though, other calls for service began to occur – including three incidents that prompted criminal charges:

 

• On Jan. 15, just after 11 p.m., RCMP received a report of a 27-year-old male being stabbed in the leg by an individual. The male was treated for his injuries at the local nursing station and released. The same suspect involved in the initial disturbance call 90 minutes earlier was identified;
   
• On Jan. 16, at 7:45 p.m., RCMP received a report that several males – including the suspect from the initial incident – threatened a 22-year-old female inside her home with a knife. The victim suffered minor physical injuries; and
   
• On Jan. 17, at 4:30 a.m., RCMP responded to a call that a suspect was trying to break into a home. A physical altercation involving several people occurred outside of the home and spilled onto the roadway. One person was taken to hospital as a result. A person living at the residence said the same group had shown up the night before, armed with knives and a BB gun.

 

On the afternoon of Jan. 17, Chemawawin RCMP and First Nation Safety Officers located and arrested two suspects. Two other suspects were arrested by RCMP performing a traffic stop.

 

A 20-year-old male faces charges of:

 

• Forcible confinement;
• Assault with weapon x2;
• Assault x2;
• Aggravated assault;
• Possession of weapon for dangerous purpose;
• Break and enter;
• Possession of break-in instruments; and
• Failure to comply with a probation order x6;

 

A 31-year-old male faces charges of:

• Forcible confinement;
• Assault x2;
• Aggravated assault;
• Assault with a weapon;
• Possession of weapon for dangerous purpose x2;
• Possession of break-in instruments;
• Break and enter; and
• Failure to comply with a probation order x3.

 

A 23-year-old female faces charges of:

• Forcible confinement;
• Assault x2;
• Aggravated assault;
• Possession of weapon for dangerous purpose;
• Break and enter; and
• Possession of break-in instruments.

 

A 24-year-old male faces charges of:

• Forcible confinement;
• Assault x2;
• Aggravated assault;
• Possession of weapon for dangerous purpose;
• Break and enter;
• Possession of break-in instruments; and
• Breach of recognizance.

 

The investigation continues.

Thompson has been home to the first dedicated MRI unit for use in northern Manitoba since April 2025.

The mobile MRI unit was delivered to Thompson on April 28th,  with the first patient appointment taking place on June 6th.

According to a Shared Health spokesperson, the MRI operates seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Between June and December 2025, a total of 1,549 MRI scans were completed at the Thompson site.

Patients from across the Northern Regional Health Authority have accessed the service, with the highest utilization coming from Thompson, Flin Flon, The Pas, Split Lake, Cross Lake, and Gillam.

The mobile MRI will eventually be shared with The Pas.

However, the timeline for relocation is dependent on the completion of the tendering process for required infrastructure, and contractor availability.

The Thompson Community Foundation grant applications are now open.

Thompson Community Foundation Fund, The Thompson Hospital Health Foundation Fund & The Moffat Family Fund accept Grant Applications in February of each year.

Applications will be accepted from any non-profit organization with a Revenue Canada Charitable Registration Number in Thompson.

Grants are awarded in June to worthwhile community projects to be completed before December 1st of each year.

To learn if your  organization qualifies for funding, review the Grant Guidelines on their website at our foundation thompson DOT CA to determine which projects and expenditures are eligible.

Applications are open until February 20, 2026 at 4:00 PM.

To date, the foundation has awarded almost $2.5 million in grants.

The City of Thompson is cracking down on false alarms.

 

Under the City’s False Alarm By-law that came into effect January 1^st, the first false alarm will result in education materials being sent to the property owner.

 

Your second offense will result in a 300$ fine and any other false alarm within the 12 month span after will cost you 600$

 

The City says service technicians who trigger alarms without notifying Fire and Emergency Services in advance will also face fines.

 

Dennis Benson speaks on false alarm data last year.

 

“In 2025, Thompson Fire and Emergency Services responded to 651 fire related calls and of those calls, 292 were classified as false alarms.”

 

Bell Let’s Talk Day is a Canadian Mental Health Awareness Day that began in 2010.

Its initiative is to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and encourage open conversations about mental health.

Each year, people across the country come together to talk, share, and show support for mental health.

The Bell Let’s Talk Day 2026 is this Wednesday, and the theme is Taking a Moment for Mental Health.

This theme focuses on noticing personal well-being, slowing down, and creating space for self-care.

Last October, Bell announced a  $10 million commitment to Canadian mental health initiatives in 2026.

That brings the total Bell Let’s Talk investment to $194 million since 2010.

On January 13, Swan River RCMP received a report of a Sapotaweyak Cree Nation female who had been missing for more than two weeks.

 

Rhoda Brass, 19, has not been in contact with family members since Dec. 29. Brass was last seen with a friend on Jan. 6 at a shack-like structure that has since burned down.

 

RCMP and family members are very concerned for her safety.

 

Brass is approximately 5’2”, with short black hair.

 

If you or anyone you know have information on her whereabouts, please call Swan River RCMP at 204-734-3454, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

This past Wednesday, University College of the North connected athletes in The Pas with a first-of-its-kind financial literacy presentation designed specifically for the hockey players of the Northern Manitoba Blizzard Jr A Club.

Business faculty members Janice Seto and Anna Dudina lead the session.

The initiative stems from a direct request from the Blizzard organization, which recognized the need to equip its young athletes with essential life skills.

The session provided players with the foundational knowledge needed to manage their finances as they navigate their athletic careers.

UCN’s presentation titled ‘Make Your Money Work for You’, laid out a positive approach to budgets and credit card use that has the goal of looking at finances as a critical tool for success.

The City of Thompson Water and Wastewater Utility is rolling out a paperless water bill option for customers.

You can sign up to have your water bills emailed to you by filling out an online form that can be found on the City’s website.

Required information includes your name, your email address, your phone number and whether the account is a personal or business account.

If you have questions about signing up or having trouble with the form, call the Utility Clerk at 204-677-7950 or email utility@thompson.ca

With more than four thousand people from Pimicikamak Cree Nation currently displaced from their homes, concerns are rising that families may soon face a second displacement; this time from the hotels in Thompson, where they are temporarily sheltered. A major hockey tournament scheduled in the city this week has placed additional pressure on already limited accommodations.

 

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) is urging hotel owners and operators in Thompson to ensure that evacuees are not forced out to make room for incoming visitors. MKO is also requesting the Thompson Chamber of Commerce work with its member businesses to help evacuees maintain stability in accommodations until they can return home.

 

MKO issued a similar statement this past summer, urging the Manitoba Hotel Association and governments to prevent repeated displacements of northern First Nations evacuees during wildfire evacuations. Despite those calls, evacuees continue to face instability during emergencies.

 

"With hotels in Thompson at capacity, evacuees in this emergency should not be removed from their temporary homes for a sporting event,” said MKO Grand Chief Garrison Sette. “Our priority must be the safety, dignity, and stability of the families who have already endured enough.”

 

Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief David Monias emphasized the emotional and physical toll the crisis has taken on members. “This is our third evacuation since last summer; our people are going through another traumatic experience,” said Chief Monias. “They should not have to worry about being displaced again. We need all levels of government and our partners to work together to ensure our families remain safe and sheltered.”

 

Thousands of residents were forced to evacuate their homes in Pimicikamak Cree Nation this winter after a four?day power outage in extreme cold led to frozen pipes, damaged water and sewage systems, and widespread impacts to critical infrastructure. Many homes remain uninhabitable, leaving families reliant on emergency lodging.

 

MKO is calling for immediate coordination between federal, provincial, and emergency management partners to ensure families aren't forced out in the cold again.

At City Council Monday, Volker Beckman, long time volunteer with the Spirit Way organization and publisher of The Spirit Way Story addressed the Mayor and council about the future of the project.

 

“There is one chapter in the book at the very end called “The Future” where two big projects have been designed and money has been spent but they haven’t been completed and I was asking council who would complete those projects. That basically was the idea to bring the city council up to date with what has been done in the past and what can be done in the future.”

 

Beckman is hoping for a consultation with the city on this matter.

National Non-Smoking Week begins next week. Bruce Krentz Health Promotion coordinator for the Northern Health Region tells us a bit about what it is.

 

“We still spend the whole week talking about quitting smoking and that’s morphed a little bit to talk about quitting vaping, managing marijuana use also talking about chew and dip and zonnic. It’s a whole week to focus on tobacco reduction.”

 

For more help on quitting smoking and tobacco use visit the Northern Health Region Facebook page and tune in next week to hear Jen Whalen discuss mental health.

Recovery is now the focus after a school bus crash north of Swan River sent multiple students to hospital.

 

Fourteen students and a driver were injured when the bus from Sapotaweyak Cree Nation rolled over on Highway 10, just south of Mafeking, during icy conditions.

 

RCMP say four people suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

 

One 16-year-old girl broke two vertebrae, and her family says she faces a long recovery.

 

Police continue to investigate.

Sno-Man has supported the snowmobiling community in Manitoba through the development of one of the best trail systems in the country.

This year marks their 50th anniversary and, as Yvonne Rideout the Executive of Director of Snoman says, it’s time to celebrate.

“We kicked off our celebration at our congress in Gimli in November and now it’s time to celebrate on the snow. Regions are encouraged to plan rides and I can share that the Western region is doing a three day trek around the perimeter of Riding Mountain National Park. The Interlake has two different rides planned, you can opt for a one day or a two day ride.”

Rideout says Manitoba has the third longest trail system in Canada, with 13-thousand kilometres of trails, thanks to 53 volunteer clubs that clear and maintain them.

Learn more about Sno-Man and the work they do to support the growing snowmobiling community.

Catch Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon.

Manitobans can now apply for and use a digital health card on their mobile devices.

 

The Manitoba government says the card can be stored in the MB Wallet app and used when accessing health care, reducing the need to carry a physical card.

 

Residents can choose a digital card, a plastic card, or both, and those already registered can access the digital version right away.

Thompson’s second Polar Plunge is coming to Paint Lake on February 7th.

This fund raiser for Special Olympics Manitoba is held in conjunction with the Law Enforcement Torch run, with money raised supporting athletes in their training and travel to competitions.

Melissa Suggitt, the Director of Marketing and Operations for Special Olympics Manitoba shares the benefits of sports for those with intellectual disabilities.

“Our athletes compared to peers with an intellectual disability who do not participate are 49 percent less likely to suffer from things like depression or anxiety. They have two and a half years on average longer life spans and are 15 percent less likely to develop diabetes.”

To participate in this year’s Polar Plunge go to specialolympics.mb.ca.

For more details, tune in to Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

Over the weekend, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakinak’s Food Bank received a shipment of food packages from Manitoba Harvest.

Yesterday that food was distributed to those housing family and friends from Pimicikimak Cree Nation here in Thompson.

Also on the weekend, Aubrey, Ana and Ellen from Ecole Riverside School’s student council were on hand at Safeway to collect food packages for the evacuees from Cross Lake, under the supervision of Mrs. Beniwal and Madame Mervat from the school.

In all, they collected 105 packages of food, valued at over one-thousand dollars.

Thompson RCMP are investigating a break and enter at a business on Selkirk Avenue early Monday morning.

 

Police say a pickup truck was used to smash through a storefront window, and items were stolen.

 

Officers later stopped the stolen vehicle near Mystery Lake Road. Two youths, ages 11 and 13, were arrested.

 

The 11-year-old was released to a family member, while the 13-year-old remains in custody.

 

The investigation is ongoing.

Long-time northern Manitoba hockey advocate Kathy Valentino has been appointed to the Hockey Manitoba Board of Directors.

 

She founded the Norman U15 Triple-A program, served with the Norman Northstars U18 Triple-A organization, and has been recognized with Hockey Manitoba’s Norman Volunteer Award.

 

Valentino is also a Thompson city councillor, President of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, and second vice-president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakinak’s Food Bank will be distributing food today to those evacuated from Pimicikimak Cree Nation.

MKO has received a shipment from Harvest Manitoba for people housing evacuees to assist with food security while they home their family and friends from Cross Lake.

The food packages can be picked up at the MKO Food Bank at 31 Nelson Road.

They ask that people living in Thompson bring ID to show proof of address if they are not already a food Bank member.

They also require the Red Cross Cards for the people staying with family and friends living in Thompson.

For further details, contact Gina Spence at MKO at 204-677-1600.

If you know a community member of any age who shares their time and energy for the good of the City, nominate them for the Thompson Neighborhood Renewal Corporation’s Volunteer Awards.

These inaugural awards recognize volunteers in 7 different categories - four for individuals, one for a local not-for-profit or charitable organization, a committee, group or club, and a business.

The nomination deadline is January 21st, with forms available by emailing admin@TNRC.ca or by calling 204-677-0760.

The awards will be handed out on Saturday, January 24th at 5 pm at the Thompson Regional Community Centre.

On January 6, 2026, at 11:15 pm, Oxford House RCMP were advised by First Nation Safety Officer’s that they were responding to a report of a stranded motorist out on the winter road, near mile marker 180.

The FNSO’s, who were out conducting checkstops on the winter road, advised that they were nearby and would attend to provide assistance if required.

At approximately 12:30 am, RCMP received an update from the FNSO’s that the stranded vehicle, which had run out of fuel, contained five occupants and that they were taken into custody for attempting to transport a large quantity of drugs and liquor into the community.

Bunibonibee Cree Nation has by-laws in place that prohibits the sale and possession of alcohol in the community, which they have asked the RCMP to make enforcement a priority.

RCMP met with the FNSO’s on the winter road and placed the five suspects under arrest for the possession of the drugs and liquor.

A search of the vehicle, and surrounding area where of where it came to a stop on the winter road, led to the seizure of 209 bottles of liquor, over 850 grams of crack cocaine, over 200 grams of cocaine, a small quantity of methamphetamine and other drug related paraphernalia.

One of the occupants, a 34-year-old female from Bunibonibee Cree Nation, found to have sustained injuries earlier consistent with an assault, was taken to the Nursing Station where she was later flown out of the community for further treatment.

The four remaining suspects, Glen Harper, 18, Oden Mason, 22, Cynthia Weenusk, 37, all from Bunibonibee Cree Nation, along with Tamara Palmquist, 43, from Winnipeg, were remanded into custody on charges of Possession for the purpose of Trafficking, Possession of property obtained by crime and several charges under the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control act (LGCCA).

Oxford House RCMP continue to investigate.

The City of Thompson is taking steps toward formal asset management planning, as work continues on new bylaws aimed at long-term infrastructure planning and environmental responsibility.

 

“We don’t have the management bylaws; these are what are being proposed. We actually hired someone in November and he’s in the process of going through other communities and seeing what they have and making an asset management bylaw. We’ve been trying to move ahead with developing asset management programs for several years.”

 

City officials say progress has picked up in recent months, with additional bylaws tied to corporate management and full life-cycle environmental responsibility.

The approval by Health Canada for use of the post-partum depression medication Zuranalone in 2026 for Canadian mothers is welcome news.

The medication has been used in the U.S., U.K. and European Union to great affect.

Kristin Reynolds, an Associate Professor with the Department of Psychology at the University of Manitoba, shares the difference between the more common “baby blues” and post-partum depression.

“A really important distinction between a clinical peripartum/perinatal depression and baby blues is that symptoms are longer lasting. People might have a depressed mood, appetite change, change in sleep, change in energy, change in feelings of excessive guilt.”

Reynolds added that if a woman’s family members have struggled with post-partum depression, it is possible they will as well due to a strong genetic component.

Learn more about what post-partum depression is, the symptoms, and the resources available for mothers outside of medications.

Catch Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.

The Northern Health Region is reporting increased flu activity across the north in November and December.

 

Since September, over 5000 flu vaccines and 3,600 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered. Vaccines remain available through local public health offices and select pharmacies.

 

Manitoba is also offering the Nirsevimab vaccine to newborns to help protect them against RSV.

 

For more information, residents can visit northernhealthregion.om or go to their Facebook page.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of International Snowmobile Safety Week.

Manitoba RCMP, Manitoba Public Insurance and Snowmobilers of Manitoba take this time to urge everyone to ride safely while on the trails in our province.

Under law, all riders must wear an approved snowmobile helmet when on their machine and that all riders under the age of 14 must be under adult supervision.

Twenty-eight snowmobile-related deaths have occurred over the past six years, including four in 2025.

Speed was a contributing factor in many of those 28 deaths, as was alcohol impairment, improper or no helmet use, driver inexperience and careless driving.

According to Maria Campos with MPI, January and February have the highest fatality rates among snowmobilers in Manitoba.

MPI collects a $25 non-refundable annual fee on all off-road vehicle registrations on behalf of the Government of Manitoba to support trail maintenance and development, off-road vehicle safety education and training programs, and rehabilitation of public lands impacted by off-road vehicle use.

A new app designed for personal diagnostic and X-ray viewing is here!

 

Bruce Krentz, Health Promotions Coordinator for the Northern Health Region explains the detail.

 

“It’s called Pocket Wise and if you’ve had some diagnostic imagining done, x-rays for example, in the past, you could get a copy of those on a CD but we’ve moved forward from CDs. We got a QR code and a website where using your personal health information, you can access your images and have them on your phone. You request the images on pockethealth.com/sharedhealth. There is information on our Facebook page, there are also a number of posters down in our diagnostic imaging and the lab area down here at the hospital. A neat little piece of technology that we are launching in 2026 there is called Pocket Wise.”

Raj Sewda has resigned his position as CEO of the Northern Regional Health Authority.

 

The Board of Directors made the announcement Tuesday.

 

Since joining the NRHA in 2023,  Sewda led with a focus on strengthening partnerships, advancing organizational priorities, and supporting communities across the Region.

 

Sewda shared, “It has been an honour to serve the Northern Health Region. I am grateful to our staff, community partners, and leadership team for their dedication and collaboration.

 

The Board has announced the appointment of Acting Chief Executive Officer, Cam Ritzer along with Acting Associate Chief Executive Officer, Michael Ellis effective immedaiately.

Pimicikimak Cree Nation Chief David Monias toured through his community yesterday with various government representatives to assess the damage caused by a power outage in the community roughly 10 days ago.

Here, Monias explains who was in the community and what they were doing.

“We have technitians from Business Service Canada and Health Canada. We also have a person from the EHS, Environmental Health, that’s looking after and assessing water and all the things that are happening in our community.”

Monias said the main school and the portable school rooms have been heavily hit with damage from broken water pipes.

Both the water treatment plant and sewage plant have been impacted as well, which he says will compromise the health of the residents.

To date, 12 per cent of the 1300-plus residences have been assessed, but only 2 per cent have had their issues fixed.

Monias declared a state of emergency for Pimicikimak Cree Nation and is looking for help from the federal government.

Provincial representatives are slated to be in the community today to see the damage firsthand.

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakinak has denounced Manitoba Hydro’s latest rate hike of 4 per cent while northern First Nations struggled with repeated power failures in 2025.

The most recent took place last week, when a power line across the Nelson River snapped about 10 kilometres north of Pimicikimak Cree Nation on December 28th.

For days, their residents were left without heat  or functioning water or sewage systems.

Many were evacuated to Thompson, with support from the Canadian Red Cross.

 

While power has been restored, residents are still out of their community due to broken water pipes and flooding in their homes.

Other incidents included a 128-day evacuation of Mathias Colomb Cree Nation after wildfires destroyed the transmission line serving Pukatawagan, and York Factory First Nation had the essential transportation link of the ferry service disrupted due to low water levels on Split Lake that were engineered by Manitoba Hydro.

MKO’s Grand Chief Garrison Settee urged the Public Utilities Board to deny further rate increases until Manitoba Hydro commits to energy security for northern Manitoba First Nations.