NORTHERN Prosperity
Thompson to welcome new $135-million, large-scale regional airport after years of planning
Family-owned and operated tourism business flaunts northern Manitoba’s beauty Local resident Wayne Hall publishes book on history of Thompson
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your team and drive
A message from the president of the Thompson Chamber of Commerce ETHEL TIMBANG
Dear members and friends of the Thompson Chamber of Commerce,
As president of the Thompson Chamber of Commerce, it is my honour to address you in this year’s first edition of our annual magazine. Our community continues to thrive thanks to the dedication and hard work of our business leaders, entrepreneurs, and residents.
The Thompson Chamber of Commerce remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering economic development within our city. We are dedicated to ensuring that our local commerce remains vibrant, healthy, and poised for growth. Through strategic initiatives, advocacy, and support programs, we aim to create an environment where businesses of all sizes can flourish.
This past year, we have seen remarkable achievements in various sectors, reflecting the resilience and innovation of our community. We have supported
new ventures, facilitated partnerships, and provided resources to help our businesses navigate challenges and seize opportunities.
Looking ahead, we are excited about the possibilities that lie before us. The Chamber will continue to champion policies and initiatives that stimulate economic activity and attract investment to Thompson. We are committed to creating a sustainable and prosperous future for our city, where businesses can thrive and the quality of life for our residents continues to improve.
Thank you for your unwavering support and participation in the Chamber’s activities. Together, we can ensure that Thompson remains a beacon of economic vitality and a place where businesses and the community grow hand in hand.
Sincerely,
Ethel Timbang
A message from the general manager of the Thompson Chamber of Commerce
DEBRA POULIOT
This is very exciting! This is our first magazine; we hope you enjoy it, and we hope to have it as an annual production.
I have been serving as the general manager of the Thompson Chamber of Commerce since February 2023. Although I am new to the Chamber and the nonprofit sector, I bring a fresh perspective and a strong commitment to fostering community engagement and organizational growth.
My leadership is characterized by a strategic vision and
a collaborative approach, ensuring that the goals of the organization are met with excellence and integrity. I am dedicated to driving positive change and supporting the mission of the Chamber.
It has been a pleasure getting to know the members and board members. I look forward to exciting and interesting projects coming in 2025.
Sincerely,
Debra Pouliot
to be key pieces of strategic Canadian trade and transportation infrastructure. , we’ve been able to undertake signi cant upgrades to the Hudson Bay Railway that improve reliability and diversify exports, including essential critical minerals, to international markets.
BENEFITS of a Thompson Chamber of Commerce MEMBERSHIP
The Thompson Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit, community organization made up of local businesses, professionals, and people in Thompson and the surrounding area. Together, we are working towards building a strong and growing commerce for our region through various programs and partnerships.
Joining the Thompson Chamber of Commerce is a strategic investment in your business and the community. As a member, you receive access to a variety of supports and services.
NETWORKING:
• Monthly lunch networking and guest speakers.
• Workshops and meetings throughout the year.
VISIBILITY AND EXPOSURE:
• Online business listing on the Thompson Chamber website and the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce website.
• Opportunities to advertise and promote your business through the Chamber’s marketing efforts.
• Referrals to member businesses.
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COST SAVINGS, DISCOUNTS, AND PROGRAMS:
• Chambers Plan employee benefits.
• Affinity programs.
• Member to member savings (coming September).
ADVOCACY AND REPRESENTATION:
• Lobbying on behalf of member needs and other issues that impact the regions at municipal, provincial, and federal levels.
• Opportunity to provide valuable input through Chamber surveys.
ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND RESOURCES:
• Quarterly newsletter.
• Annual issue of Northern Prosperity magazine.
• Connections through the Chamber office.
• Access to additional information through the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, and other industry associations.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO COMMUNITY:
• Providing leadership as a member of the Thompson Chamber of Commerce board of directors.
• Volunteering for Chamber events and special initiatives.
• Hosting of events that impact the region including the Northern Transportation Symposium.
Are you taking full advantage of your membership benefits? If not, reach out to the Chamber office to discuss your needs. We’re proud to provide you with an affordable stay and
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Long-time resident documents history of Thompson
“Where You From?” by Wayne Hall chronicles the community’s founding until 1970, the year Thompson became a city
By Kelsey James
After seven years of researching dates, stories and names, Thompson resident Wayne Hall has released a book about the city’s history.
“It’s a history, point by point, of who did what and when they did it,” Hall said.
Mining company INCO discovered an ore body at Moak Lake and dug an experimental shaft 1,000 feet deep. Samples were sent to Sudbury for analysis. Exploration continued all over the area and the major ore body was discovered at Cook Lake (later named Thompson). With the discovery of this ore body, INCO decided to go ahead with the mine and town.
At the time, there were no roads or landing strip in the area. Incoming planes landed on the ice and water. Materials were hauled in by Cat train, loaded off the railway at Thicket Portage, and shipped across the frozen lakes to Thompson.
By 1958, a railway was completed, leading to year-
round shipping. Houses were also beginning to be built because lumber and larger loads of freight could now be transported. Construction didn’t stop for the next 60 years.
“The plan for the town was laid out before they even started bulldozing,” Hall said. “They would bulldoze the trees into big piles and burn the piles to get rid of them. They would then push the piles together and burn them some more. They kept doing this until they got down to pieces about a foot long. After that, they would dig a big hole and bury those pieces of wood. I know where one of those pits are because it was at the back of my garage. We had pieces of burnt wood brought up by the frost for over 50 years.”
Hall moved to Thompson in 1961 when he was 20 years old and in search of work. After visiting an unemployment office in Winnipeg, Hall learned of a northern Manitoba mine that had opened in Thompson and had started production of nickel that spring.
Aerial photograph of the Juniper area in 1962.
The first train to arrive in Thompson.
“I went to work at the mine in the refinery and in December I got an infection in my left big toe from the acid leaching process,” Hall said “They put me in the hospital and took the end of my toe off to get the infection out. I never went back. Instead, I went downtown and found a job in a pool room.”
Hall worked as a ball racker for less money than he made at the mine, but the living conditions were better. Within three months, he was promoted to manager of the restaurant and pool room.
“I only had a Grade 8 formal education, and it didn’t hold me back here,” Hall said. “It was a great place. If you wanted to work hard, the sky was the limit.”
At the same time. Hall’s brother from Medicine Hat was asking him to travel out west. He told him he would visit after he saved some money.
“Things were happening so fast here,” Hall said. “There were so many young people around. It wasn’t the kind of thing where you had to wait for somebody to pass away to get an advancement. There were so many opportunities; it was just unbelievable.”
Hall had initially planned on staying in Thompson for only three months. Two years passed before he went to have a visit with his brother.
“It was such an exciting time. I was just enjoying myself and the opportunities were never-ending,’ Hall said. “One thing led to another and about four years later, I met a young lady that walked through the door and ended up being my wife.”
So far, Hall has sold over 1000 copies of his book. The title is inspired by those early days in Thompson. When you met someone for the first time, you would ask, “Where you from?”
“I heard people in the coffee shop discussing when things happened and who was there. I heard it so much and decided I would write all these things down so we’d know exactly when it happened, where, and who was there,” Hall said. “Nobody was from Thompson at that point. It wasn’t until my children’s generation that there were people from here.”
Since the book’s launch in 2023, Hall has received a lot of positive feedback from Thompson residents and former residents.
“I just wanted it on paper and I wanted it to be truthful,” Hall said. “I’ve had many people tell me that it brought back memories. What surprised me was how wrong I was about dates, people, and places. I looked at these people as pioneers; they came from all over the world and wouldn’t leave Thompson because they loved it.”
Hard copies of “Where You From?” can be purchased directly from Wayne Hall by calling 204-679-5740. Digital and hard copies can be ordered on Amazon.
Before roads were built, it was common for mothers to have to pull their children out of the mud.
Terminal at Cook Lake, which would later become Thompson.
Thompson’s first Legion.
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Transportation symposium brings together experts to explore opportunities to service northern Canada’s remote communities
The first Northern Transportation Symposium is taking place on September 5 and 6, 2024
By Kelsey James
The Thompson Chamber of Commerce is gearing up to host the community’s first transportation symposium.
The Northern Transportation Symposium, taking place in Thompson on September 5 and 6, 2024, will bring together transportation providers and experts to explore opportunities for growth and innovation to better connect Manitoba’s northern communities.
Thompson, also known as the “Hub of the North,” is a city of 14,000 residents situated in the heart of northern Manitoba. It encompasses an area of 440,000 square kilometres. Most northern communities are Indigenous without access to permanent infrastructure. They are separated by large distances of remote, boreal forest, yet many of these communities have no all-weather roads.
Above: The new Thompson Regional Airport, currently under construction, will be a topic of conversation at the event.
Supplying food, fuel, materials, health care, and even judicial services to these areas is extremely expensive. Air transportation is currently the only year-round transport for most northern communities. Reliable, affordable, year-round transportation has been discussed but never delivered.
“Right now, Thompson is building a $120 million new airport, which will have major impact on moving freight to the north. There’s also been over $100 million spent over the last couple years on improving the rail line from The Pas to Churchill,” said Northern Transportation Symposium event manager and Thompson Chamber of Commerce director, Volker Beckmann
“Things are improving, but we felt there could be economic and Indigenous reconciliation opportunities being missed because these different transportation sectors are doing the work on their own,” Beckmann added. “We decided that if we could bring everybody to the table with their expertise to hear from one another, then other opportunities might present itself.”
The Northern Transportation Symposium, taking place in Thompson on September 5 and 6, 2024, will bring together transportation providers and experts to explore opportunities for growth and innovation to better connect Manitoba’s northern communities
The symposium will serve as a crucial platform for experts and government officials to explore various forms of transportation aimed at enhancing accessibility to northern communities. By focusing on improving connections to supply chains and potential business opportunities, the symposium seeks to foster economic growth and development in these often-underserved areas. Through collaborative efforts and innovative solutions, the event aspires to ensure that northern regions become integral parts of broader economic networks, thereby unlocking new possibilities for the future.
Thompson previously hosted a smaller transportation session in 2006, but things have changed drastically with the proliferation of the Internet, technological advances, and new transport modes. The Thompson Chamber of Commerce has been planning the symposium alongside a small advisory committee through Supply Chain Canada and Dr. Barry Prentice, who is head of the Transport Institute at the University of Manitoba and a world-recognized speaker on airship development.
“A lot of goods and services move through Thompson. It’s also headquarters for several prominent Indigenous organizations,” Beckmann said. “One grand chief has already made an announcement that they would like to
see all weather roads because it’s so expensive to ship freight, materials, and food to some of the outlying, far distance communities. This raises questions about where the money is going to come from, which government will provide that kind of support, and how long it will take. These transportation issues have been ongoing for decades, and this is the first time we’ve been able to hold a symposium to bring everyone up to speed with what’s going on in the different sectors.”
The two-day event will include discussions on topics related to various modes of transportation – such as air, road, and rail – as well as new methods of travel and cargo hauling, like airships, drones, electric vehicles, and railbuses.
“As I’ve been talking to different people in each sector, they raise points that need to be discussed,” Beckmann said. “They’re struggling on their own. The highway people don’t necessarily to talk the rail people, and both of those don’t talk to the air people. Each one of them has different aspects they’re working on and different challenges they’re dealing with. We want to let each sector bring those ideas forward and discuss how they can collaborate. Getting all these people together from across the country will be critical because northern Manitoba has so many unique opportunities for growth and critical minerals that need to be developed.”
Knowledgeable speakers and experts from Thompson, Winnipeg, The Pas, Calgary, and St. Theresa Point First
Nation will be attending the event. Chuck Davidson, chief executive officer of the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce, will be moderator and MC.
“Over the decades that I’ve been in Manitoba, so many decisions made by government and businesspeople are done in Winnipeg,” Beckmann said. “We need bring everybody into the room together and understand who the decisionmakers are and what needs to be done next to create the economic growth that we foresee for the next 10 to 20 years. It’s the right time to do this.”
For more information on registration and participation in the symposium, contact the Thompson Chamber of Commerce at 204-677-4155 or by email at commerce@ mts.net.
Registration for the two-day conference is available at www.ntsymposium.com.
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Thompson Community Development Corporation: Diversifying Thompson’s economy and enhancing tourism
By Kelsey James
Northern Manitoba’s largest city, Thompson, is experiencing a vibrant transformation thanks to the efforts of the Thompson Community Development Corporation (TCDC). This non-profit organization, an extension of the city’s civic government, is committed to advancing the economic development of the Thompson
region while also enhancing human and social capital.
REBIRTH OF A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION
The TCDC, in its current form, has been active for about five years, but its roots go back to 1996 when it was initially established and later rebranded as Thompson Unlimited.
The organization has always focused on community economic development. However, financial constraints led to its closure in 2015. Following a community assessment in 2019, the need for a dedicated organization to drive economic development in Thompson was identified. This led to the revival of the TCDC in June 2020.
Thompson Community Development Corporation, a non-profit organization, is an extension of the city’s civic government and advances the economic development of the region while also enhancing human and social capital.
CORE AREAS OF FOCUS
Under the leadership of executive director Rosanna Angeles, the TCDC focuses on four key areas:
1. Economic Development and Diversification
2. Project Development and Implementation
3. Marketing and Advocacy Support
4. Stakeholder Collaboration
These strategic areas aim to create a more diverse and resilient economy in Thompson.
PROMOTING UNIQUE TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES
One of Angeles’ first initiatives was attending Travel Manitoba’s Northern Tourism Advisory Committee meeting. This involvement spurred the creation of a tourism committee within the TCDC to coordinate tourism events and initiatives in the north. Angeles emphasizes the unique attractions of Thompson, such as the aurora borealis and the local wolf population.
“We can’t promote everything, so we want to concentrate on some unique aspects of Thompson and the northern region,” she said.
INNOVATIVE PROJECTS AND DIGITAL SOLUTIONS
The TCDC is at the forefront of several innovative projects. One standout initiative is the installation of interactive tourism kiosks. These digital touchscreens serve as a cost-effective and sustainable
marketing platform for local businesses. Thompson boasts the best-performing kiosks among all Manitoba communities using the equipment. Interested businesses are encouraged to advertise through these kiosks to reach a wider audience.
“Right now, we can generate only the number of clicks on the machine, but eventually, we will be able to see how many people are looking into Thompson from outside the city,” Angeles explained.
The kiosks are also set to be installed in other locations, including
The Pas, Flin Flon, and Winnipeg Richardson International Airport.
SHOWCASING REGIONAL ARTISTRY AND CUISINE
In partnership with Travel Manitoba and the Thompson Chamber of Commerce, the TCDC develops and distributes tour packages that highlight the region’s arts and food scenes.
“We’re the ‘Hub of the North,’ and our Indigenous cuisine and art are two things we want to promote,” Angeles said.
With a core population of about 16,000 that expands to up to 60,000 when including extended communities, Thompson has a unique identity that the TCDC aims to showcase.
One of the corporation’s current projects, interactive tourism kiosks, serve as a cost-effective and sustainable marketing platform for local businesses.
ENHANCING LABOUR AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
The TCDC also focuses on labour enhancement, working with the Thompson Chamber of Commerce to connect local businesses with potential workers through surveys and employer engagement.
“A lot of developments are happening here right now,” Angeles said. “We have a new airport that’s ready to be in operation next year, and there’s a revamp on the management of the city tenders. The city is open to economic development, and they’re encouraging more businesses to come to Thompson.”
For more information about the Thompson Community Development Corporation and its initiatives, visit www.thompsoncdc.ca.
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‘
The
good, the
bad, and the beauty’: Thompson tourism company showcases northern Manitoba’s charm
Howling Wolf Tours started offering boat tours to Pisew Falls in 2019
Geoff Greenfield may not originally be from northern Manitoba, but he’s a Thompsonite at heart.
Greenfield moved to Thompson in July 2003 after visiting his mother two years prior, who worked as a social worker in remote communities. She would send Greenfield pictures of the places she travelled, which piqued his interest in visiting northern Manitoba’s largest city.
“I fell in love with the place, sold everything I had and moved with two backpacks and a duffel bag,” he said. “I flew up here and never looked
back. When I came to visit, I knew this would probably be the town I lived in for the rest of my life.”
Over a decade later, Greenfield – now married with kids and still happily living in Thompson – owns Howling Wolf Tours. He launched the family-owned and operated boat tour business in 2019 after his mother passed away and left him a small inheritance.
“I didn’t know what to do with it, but I knew I wasn’t going to have it eaten up in hydro bills and groceries,” Greenfield said. “I told my wife, ‘Honey, I’m not going to waste this
By Kelsey James
money. I’m going to buy a boat, and I’m going to start a tourism business in Thompson.’”
Greenfield wanted to focus his tours primarily on the river because it was what he first fell in love with when he visited in 2001. He purchased a 22-foot boat in 2018 and received eco-tourism rights for the Burntwood River, Paint Lake, and from Wabowden to Thompson, including Pisew Falls.
“We ran the first year for free to see what the market would stand and to set a price point for us,” Greenfield said. “It was suggested I could
charge more for the service I’m providing, but I couldn’t morally. My mom taught me that just because I can charge more doesn’t mean I should. I wanted to keep it cost effective for a single mom or dad that wants to take their kids for a boat ride, see the falls and the river, and learn about the history.”
Greenfield also offers tours around the City of Thompson.
“I’ve visited a lot of places, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many murals on buildings,” he said. “You’re driving down the main road and there’s this house with this great big eagle on it. Another one has a loon on it, and then you drive a little further and there’s an apartment building with a wolf mural on it. There are garbage bins painted with murals. You’re like, ‘Somebody took the time to paint a garbage bin – that’s how much they love their neighbourhood.’”
2019 was a “home run” for the new entrepreneur. Greenfield was able to leave his day job and focus exclusively on Howling Wolf Tours while still making enough to support his family. Then, in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Like many other businesses, Greenfield was forced to halt operations and had to return to working full-time elsewhere.
“We re-opened in 2022 and saw a little bit of interest, and then in 2023 we saw a little bit more interest,” Greenfield said. “We’re on the right track, and we haven’t given up on the dream. Thompson is a gorgeous place and we want to share that with
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people. My goal is to have a couple boats and buses and six or seven employees, preferably Indigenous.”
One tour is approximately two hours in length. Greenfield takes his guests on four or five trips around the falls, which is about 6.5 miles away from Thompson. Tours are run based on demand, but are generally scheduled weekday evenings, all day Saturday, and Sunday after 2:00 p.m.
“People can sit back and enjoy a luxurious ride with loungers and relaxing while I talk about the boreal forest and the Burntwood River, the Churchill Diversion, the good, the bad, and the beauty,” Greenfield said.
“We try to make every one of our tours friendly for the individuals that are asking for it,” he added. “Some people don’t like to get too close to the falls, so we back away and look from afar. Some people like getting right into the thick of it and having waves crashing over the boat.”
For more information about Howling Wolf Tours, visit www.howlingwolftours.weebly.com or email howlingwolftours@outlook.com.
The new terminal will be two storeys with administration offices and a “mechanical penthouse” for equipment on the second floor. There will also be improved accessibility features for those with mobility, visibility, or hearing impairments, gender neutral washrooms, more retail opportunities, and added counter space at check-in counters.
Thompson Regional Airport begins work on new terminal
The $135-million large-scale project broke ground in May 2023 and is expected to be fully operational in October 2025
By Kelsey James
After years of planning, a new terminal at Thompson Regional Airport is becoming a reality.
The decision to build a 40,000 square foot terminal was made in 2007 after it was discovered the current airport was slowly sinking due to discontinuous permafrost.
“The airport is a key piece of infrastructure. It serves all our outlying communities, and we also move freight up into Nunavut,” said chief executive officer and chief
development officer of Thompson Regional Airport Authority, Curtis Ross.
“COVID taught us a lot of lessons and showed the government just how important the airport is. When all the other airports had shut down and were doing five per cent passenger travel, we still moved 50 per cent of our passengers because we had to,” Ross added. “That was when the pendulum swung the other way and the government said, ‘We better
help these guys out. This is a key piece of infrastructure and we don’t know how we’re going to service these communities if it goes down.’”
The new terminal will remain within the footprint of the current airport property. After Geotech drilling, the Thompson Regional Airport Authority selected a location with optimum soil conditions and no discontinuous permafrost. It will sit at an elevation of about 30 feet higher than the existing terminal building.
The decision to build a 40,000-squarefoot terminal was made in 2007 after it was discovered that Thompson’s current airport was slowly sinking due to discontinuous permafrost.
“The original terminal was never meant to be permanent when they built it,” Ross said. “It was built in a low-lying, swampy area, which explains the discontinuous permafrost. It was meant to service the mine without the intention of it being as long-lasting as it has been.”
Design of the new terminal, land clearing, and other work took place between 2010 and 2017. Because the site is located about 5.6 kilometres outside of the City of Thompson, new infrastructure was needed. This included a water treatment facility and sewage systems. In addition, the terminal will require aprons, taxiways, parking lots, and access roads. The new building will continue to the current 5,800-foot paved runway and 5,000-foot gravel runway.
“The airport has become an economic hub that serves communities beyond and way past the borders of Manitoba,” Ross said. “It has grown exponentially, and we’re continuing to grow. It’s also an emergency service, so the water bombers work out of there for all the forest fires. The Province of Manitoba is currently doing a feasibility study on relocating their forest fire services from Paint Lake Provincial Park to our airport. If they proceed with that, that’s another probably $40 to $70 million development that would go
on the north side of our airport.”
The new terminal will be twostoreys with administration offices and a “mechanical penthouse” for equipment on the second floor, which will allow for better efficiency and easier repairs during the winter months. There will also be improved accessibility features
for those with mobility, visibility, or hearing impairments, gender neutral washrooms, more retail opportunities, and added counter space at check-in counters.
“We’ll have an Elders room and a section of the airport that can run medivacs 24/7, which most airports don’t have,” Ross added. “Our airport
Design of the new terminal, land clearing, and other work took place between 2010 and 2017. Because the site is located about 5.6 kilometres outside of the City of Thompson, new infrastructure was needed. is the hub for medical services, so we must be able to keep those guys moving around the clock.”
The project broke ground in May 2023 and is expected to be fully operational by the second or third week of October 2025. Funding is coming from the Province of Manitoba and other government grants, including Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, the Airport Capitals Assistance Program, and federal funding from Canada Infrastructure Bank. The rest will be self-funded.
Contractors on the project include WSP, Architecture49, Avia NG, Pennco Construction, and Maple Leaf Construction.
“It’s a gamechanger,” Ross said. “If you talk to our mayor or anyone in the economic development field, there will be more opportunities within the airport footprint. Our passenger end of it is growing, but freight is huge. It’s also that first impression of Thompson. Our current airport is not a very good first impression; it looks old, it’s tired, and it’s past its prime. This is going to change that.”
For more information about Thompson Regional Airport and the new terminal, visit www.thompsonairport.ca.
‘It’s an
exciting time for mining in Thompson’: Vale Base Metals to develop company’s existing northern Manitoba’s mines with $150 million in upgrades
By Kelsey James
Vale Base Metals’ Manitoba Operations have been mining high-grade nickel sulfide ore in Thompson for nearly 70 years, and the operation’s team is busy laying the groundwork for another 70 years of mining in northern Manitoba.
“It’s an exciting time for mining in Thompson and Manitoba. We’re making big investments in our operation, and making new discoveries in our region, while making mining more welcoming and accessible to everyone,” said Stacy Kennedy, Director of Manitoba
Operations for Vale Base Metals.
Vale Base Metals is one of the world’s largest producers of highquality nickel and an important producer of copper and responsibly sourced cobalt, with operations in Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Indonesia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and Japan. Its mission is to safely deliver the critical minerals essential to the world’s energy transition, while improving life and transforming the future.
In Thompson, the company currently
operates two underground mines, T1 and T3, which feed ore to a concentrator that prepares it for shipping and further processing in Ontario.
Vale Base Metals aims to be a leader in environmentally responsible and sustainable mining. Last year, Vale’s operations, including those in Manitoba, met a big milestone when they became ISO 14001:2015 certified, meaning they meet the international standard for industrial environmental management.
Exploration geologists examine core samples at Vale Base Metals’ exploration office in Thompson.
Exploration geologists examine core samples at a remote exploration drill site south of Thompson.
Vale Base Metals’ environmental team takes water samples in Thompson’s tailings storage facility.
Thompson’s environmental management strategy includes proactively remediating and reusing waste materials from mining to reduce its footprint and its costs, as well as a robust water quality management system.
“We take our responsibility for our watershed seriously,” Kennedy said. “Every step to make sure the water that flows through our property goes back into the environment as clean as it came in.”
One of Thompson’s major growth projects has been the Thompson Mine Extension Project, a $150 million investment in the future of Thompson’s T3 mine. The electrical, mechanical, and ventilation upgrades will help them improve production in the most active areas of the mine and build the business case for much larger investments.
But Thompson’s exploration team is also looking beyond its main mine sites, executing on an ambitious exploration campaign to learn more about the opportunities in the broader region surrounding Thompson.
“The Thompson Nickel Belt has been mapped extensively closer to the surface,” Kennedy said. “But there’s more to be discovered at depth. We’re investing heavily into expanding our knowledge of very promising orebodies in the area, with a lot of promising results.”
One of the operation’s biggest priorities is to grow its local workforce and make sure northern Manitobans have an opportunity to benefit from the wealth that mining creates. Vale Base Metals is Thompson’s biggest single employer, directly employing more than 700 people along with the contractors and vendors that support the operation. In Manitoba alone, Vale contributed $271 million
in labour income over the last three years, and their average salary is more than double the provincial average.
“We have great, lifelong opportunities in mining,” Kennedy said. “Lots of our leaders here started underground as miners and built amazing careers. A job in mining can be a life-changing opportunity.”
BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM
Communities Economic Development Fund (CEDF) provides repayable loans for high impact economic development opportunities where traditional funding may not be available.
Any business entity (corporation, limited partnership, general partnership, individual/sole proprietorship) north of the 21st township or any Indigenous entity/partnership that promotes or enhances Indigenous economic development outside the city of Winnipeg can apply.
To learn more and apply, scan the QR code below or visit www.cedf.mb.ca/business-loans/ or contact us at 204-778-4138
Last year, Manitoba launched its Miners in Training curriculum, now called the Next Generation program. The program offers six weeks of training in Vale’s dedicated underground training area, helping new hires with no industrial or mining experience build a foundation for a safe and successful career as underground miners, with a particular focus on women entering the industry.
Hiring events like Walk-in Wednesday also help open the industry to a variety of local candidates, where anyone could come in off of the street, resume in hand, and interview with one of the operation’s hiring managers.
“It means that anyone with the drive to try something new has the chance to build a life with us,” Kennedy said.
Thompson, known as the “Hub of the North,” is named after John F. Thompson, chairman of International
Nickel (INCO). The company discovered its main ore body in 1956 and, from there, operations and the rest of the community grew around that finding. You can still see signs of Thompson’s mining heritage throughout the community, and the mine continues plays a big role in community life. The operation invested nearly $750,000 into community initiatives last year, including part of a $2 million investment over four years towards Thompson’s new aquatic facility.
“We’re really privileged to have great relationships with our local government, with recreational clubs and community groups, and with our Indigenous partners in Thompson,” Kennedy said. “Most of our employees live and work in Thompson, and I’m proud to see how much they’re engaged with community life. You can find our employees leading helping out everywhere in the community.”
Now, Kennedy and the Manitoba team are working to honour the Indigenous heritage of Thompson, and the Treaty 5 territory where they operate. This year, Vale Base Metals signed a new exploration agreement with the neighbouring Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, creating a mutually beneficial relationship with the community and the company’s exploration program – one that commits to a larger relationship agreement in the future.
“Mining has a big role to play in reconciliation in Manitoba,” Kennedy said. “This is a historic agreement, and long overdue.”
For more information about Vale Base Metals and the company’s Thompson operations, visit www. vale.com/basemetals, or read it’s “Journey Together” community reports at www.vale.com/journeytogether-reports.
Modern mining key to Manitoba’s prosperity
There has never been a more exciting time in Manitoba’s mining industry and the sector’s potential impact and benefits for this province have never been greater. Getting this message out is where the Mining Association of Manitoba Inc. (MAMI) steps in, having been the primary voice of the industry for over 80 years. MAMI represents all operating mines in the province and over 20 industry associate members, including contractors, suppliers, and geo-services.
“MAMI has a legacy of consultation, collaboration, and education with stakeholders including training partners such as UCN and Indigenous groups,” said MAMI president and Vale head of Manitoba operations, Stacy Kennedy. “There is strength in numbers, and we all work together in establishing the province as a leading place of growth and prosperity through mining.”
This year, for the first time ever with the full support of the provincial government, MAMI launched “Uncover Prosperity Manitoba”, a multi-media campaign aimed at enhancing awareness and creating a better understanding around modern mining, including the critical role it plays and will have on the province’s future.
More than 700 participants attended CCMEC 2023.
Vale Bolter machine – the nuts and bolts of underground mine safety.
As mining projects are years – and sometimes decades – in the making, momentum is key. There are several promising projects on the horizon in the province related to gold, copper and zinc, and lithium.
“Manitoba is in an unprecedented time of exploration – on the cusp of a minerals boom,” Kennedy said. “These projects require incredible development investments and, in turn, generate significant employment opportunities and other benefits for all Manitobans.”
MAMI is also branching out by taking over management of the Central Canada Mineral and Exploration Convention (CCMEC) – one of the largest events of its kind in this region. Last year, the convention attracted over 750 delegates, sponsors, and exhibitors.
The theme of this year’s convention is “Exploring Connections.” Leaders in the industry, including investment firms, exploring and mining companies, government officials, prospectors, suppliers, Indigenous, and academic institutions will gather to showcase innovation and advancement in the sector.
MAMI’s overarching goal is to make CCMEC an international convention of choice and establish this area as a global centre of excellence for exploration and mining. Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities remain available for the convention but are filling up quickly. For more details, visit www.ccme-convention.ca.
Construction has begun on new Thompson Regional Aquatic Centre
This new Aquatic Centre will present another option for indoor recreation year-round for Thompson and the surrounding region.
By Lisa Kopochinski
With a completion date slated for June 2026, work has begun on the new $42.6 million Regional Aquatic Centre in Thompson, Manitoba.
“The area that will serve as the parking lot for the Thompson Regional Aquatic Centre has already been levelled and will serve as the storage area for construction equipment and materials until the facility is complete, at which time it will be paved,” says Ian Graham, Communications Officer at the City of Thompson.
Other Aquatic Centre construction work completed to date includes the driving of steel piles for the
foundation, which was scheduled for completion in early August. The next stage is additional excavation and installation of cast-in-place piles for the foundation.
When completed, the new Centre will feature not one, but two pools—a 5-lane competition-ready lap pool and a leisure pool.
“The competition pool is 25 metres in length and features a ramp entry to be accessible for all,” explains Kyle Warren, architect at Stantec, the architecture firm on this impressive project.
“It includes two diving boards, both
a 1-metre and 3-metre springboard. The leisure pool includes a ‘beach entry’ which gradually slopes from deck-level to a depth of 1,200mm (4’-0”), aquatic play features and has the ability to rope off two 15 metre swimming lanes for young learners. In addition to the pools, the centre features a separated waterslide.”
The Aquatic Centre will also feature a lobby space with windows that allow viewing to the pool, a multi-purpose room that can be used as a party or meeting room, a sauna, and three separate change rooms, including a family-friendly universal change room.
This rendering shows the interior entrance of the Thompson Regional Aquatic Centre, where visitors are greeted by a spacious, modern lobby with views of the pool area. Graphic: Stantec Architecture.
When completed, the new Centre will feature not one, but two pools—a 5-lane competition-ready lap pool and a leisure pool. Graphic: Stantec Architecture
In total the Aquatic Centre comprises 2,100 square metres (approximately 21,000 square feet).
“Thompson provides many different challenges due to its location in Manitoba’s north including the temperature and yearly precipitation, particularly snowfall during the winter months,” explains Warren.
“Creating a fairly unique indoor atmosphere when exterior conditions can be quite harsh is a design challenge that required the knowledge of many disciplines involved in building design and construction.”
Stantec joined the Aquatic Centre project in 2020 starting with site selection, when the recommendation was made to the City of Thompson to include the Centre in the greater
recreation campus near the Thompson Regional Community Centre, which houses the CA Nesbitt and Gordon Beard Arenas and is connected to the Burntwood Curling Club.
Penn-Co Construction is the general contractor on this great project.
“We began site setup and groundbreaking May 21, and it is going fantastic,” says Project Manager David MacDonald.
“We have a great team of trades and workers who are all bringing their A-game. To date, we have the base of the parking lot completed and over 50 percent of the piling is complete. Excavation and grade beam concrete will be starting in the next two weeks.”
When asked about the challenges of this project, MacDonald says building up north in the Thompson Regional comes with a unique set of challenges mostly pertaining to the cold winters. To date, the team has had two big challenges.
“The first challenges were when we began driving the piles into the ground and found it to be too soft. We did some quick testing, design rework and investigating, Stantec helped the project stay on track and provided us with updated direction, so we were able to keep the piling contractor working.”
The second challenge for the team involved the large amount of rain in the area, which slowed down some of the progress on site.
“With some hard work from a
local worker, Craig Keeper, and the excellent groundwork trenching from Sapach Trucking, we were able to keep our site drained and dry for the piling crew to continue their work,” says MacDonald.
“We should have all the foundation concrete poured by next spring and the super structure complete by the following winter. As you can imagine with a pool, there will be several months of tiling and finishing.”
MANY BENEFITS
When completed, Graham says the Aquatic Centre will present another option for indoor recreation yearround for residents of Thompson and the surrounding region—particularly during the long cold winters.
“The pool will be a place for children to take swimming lessons, and for people with mobility issues to participate in low-impact exercise, and for special events such as birthday parties. Prior to the previous Norplex Pool being closed due for safety reasons, it not only provided a place to go swimming or to use the sauna but was also the site of other aquatic activities including aquacize, kayaking lessons for youth and adults, and even introductory scuba diving lessons, as well as the practice and competition site for the Thompson Northern Torpedoes Swim Club, a youth swimming team.”
The new pool will contain a waterslide, a beach-entre recreational pool, sauna and a multi-purpose room for parties and swim meets.
As one of only a few indoor swimming pools in Northern Manitoba, this new Centre will also be used by residents of surrounding communities, as the previous pool was.
“It will be a great way for visiting hockey or school sports teams to relax or burn off a little excess energy when they come to Thompson for overnight or weekend trips,” he says. “And, with many of the outdoor recreation opportunities in Northern Manitoba taking place in, on or near the water, having an aquatic centre will also help keep people safe while fishing, boating or camping during the summer by giving them a place to learn to swim.”
5 YEAR PLANNING PROCESS
The planning process for this impressive project began in 2019 within months of the old Norplex Pool being shut down.
From 1977 until February 2019, Thompson residents and those from the surrounding region could use the Norplex Pool, which had a main pool, a shallow recreation pool, a sauna and a gym. However, this facility was shut down by council and city staff because of safety issues.
“Since then, Thompson has not had an indoor pool,” says Graham. There is a hotel with a small indoor pool, but it has not been in operation for a number of years. Since 2019, swimming has been limited to beaches at Paint Lake Provincial Park location about 30 minutes south of Thompson in the summer months. The City of Thompson did have two outdoor wading pools, but these have been demolished for replacement with splash pads, one of which has been in operation for a few years. The other is expected to be installed this summer/fall.”
FUNDING PROCESS
Raising funds for this multi-milliondollar project took some time. An assessment of the old pool building took place in the summer of 2019 and the City Council decided to build a new facility after receiving the consultant’s report.
“By September 2019, the City of Thompson had applied for a federalprovincial Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program grant to help cover the costs of a new pool,” explains Graham.
“That grant was not approved until 2022, with the federal and provincial governments agreeing to contribute a combined $11 million ($6 million from the federal government and $5 million from the Province of Manitoba) towards the project.”
In 2022, Vale Canada agreed to donate $2 million construction costs. The following year, the City of Thompson received a $1 million grant from the provincial Arts, Culture and Sport in Community fund. Earlier this year, the provincial government contributed another $5 million toward the project.
“At that point, the City Council felt that they had secured enough funding to proceed with awarding the construction contract,” adds Graham.
“Between now and the expected completion date, both the City of Thompson and the Swim North pool fundraising committee will be seeking more donations and outside funding and holding more fundraisers to raise the remainder of the money that is still required to cover the total construction cost.”
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