Featuring:
BOREAL FOREST AGREEMENT PICKING UP STEAM
Plus:
• WOMEN IN MINING • LAND OF OPPORTUNITY BECKONS • WASTE TO RICHES Tourism | 1-800-665-4774
Coarse Gold
SYMBOL: CZC: CNsX
FACT SHEET
2011
Smelter Claims Issued & Outstanding Reserved for Issuance
99,454,634 18,135,626
Directors and Officers Robert N. Granger, Q.C. Stephen Masson, MSC., PGeo. David W Kendall, FCA Laara Shaffer William J. Jackson, B.A.Sc. David S. Kennedy Edward G. Thompson William J. Phillips Harry Barr Greg Campbell
Chairman, Director President, Director C.F.O. Secretary Asst Secretary Director Director Director Director Director
Corporate Information At the time of writing, Copper Reef is drilling a deep seismic target on the Smelter Property, located approximately 200 m north of the Callinan orebody and one km north of Hudbay Minerals’ Triple Seven Mine. The Smelter claims are thought, through lithoprobe data, to be underlain by the same volcanic rocks which host the Callinan and Triple Seven orebodies. Examination of recent 3-D geophysical seismic surveys has indicated two areas of strong sonic reflectivity on the Smelter claims. The seismic anomalies appear to have similar reflectivity as the Callinan orebodies; they were traversed by some of the same seismic lines that crossed the Smelter claims. The western seismic anomaly is made more attractive by being coincident with a positive gravity anomaly and directly on strike with the Triple Seven orebodies. The current drill program, which began in the spring of 2011, is nearing completion, reaching a depth of 2,300 m as of Oct.17, 2011. So far, at least one sulphide horizon has been identified.
Address Phone Fax Email URL Listing Date Auditors Solicitors Transfer Agent. Investor Relations
12 Mitchell Road, P.O. Box 306 Flin Flon Manitoba R8A 1N1 204-687-3500 204-687-4762 more@mymts.net www.copperreef.com Friday, Feb. 22, 2008 McGovern, Hurley, Cunningham, LLP, in Toronto Taylor McCaffrey LLP In Winnipeg Equity Transfer and Trust Co, in Toronto 204-687-3500
www.copperreef.com
Major Gold Properties – Alberts Lake Property Copper Reef’s main gold target this year was our Alberts Lake Property, located 20 km east of the city of Flin Flon. The Alberts Lake deposit has been tested over a 500-metre strike length and to a depth of 400 metres and remains open in all directions. Values of up to 125 g/t Au were noted in drill core, with the best intersection overall being 10.89 g/t Au over nine metres
at 225 metres vertical depth. Approximately 60 holes have been drilled into the zone to date. A historical, non-NI 43-101-compliant reserve estimate of 400,000 tonnes at 7.3 g/t Au was reported by Granges Inc. in the 1980s. The shear zone that hosts the Alberts Lake gold zone (which is up to 25 m wide) lies between a gabbroic intrusion and felsic volcanic rocks. In 2010, the drill hole data was entered into Surpac Software and new
sections were constructed to review the Alberts Zone’s drill holes. This past summer Copper Reef twinned four holes in the Alberts Zone to confirm continuality of grade and to verify assay intervals. Copper Reef twinned these holes using larger HQ core and assayed the core using a method that better reflects grades where there is coarse gold
Experience Table of Contents Ventures North Published on behalf of NorMan Regional Development Corp. NorMan RDC Box 700 Snow Lake, MB R0B 1M0 Phone: 204-358-3520 Toll free phone: 1-800-665-4774 Fax: 204-358-3524
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President Jeff Lester
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Account Executives Quinn Bogusky Jill Harris Kathy Kelley Shaun Nickel Louise Peterson © Copyright 2011, NorMan Regional Development Corporation. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of NorMan Regional Development Corporation. Publication Mail Agreement #40606022 Printed in Canada. Please recycle where facilities exist.
Housing Crisis Remains Acute in Northern Manitoba Exploration has helped filled the housing void somewhat, but more public housing still remains a necessity.
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Art Centre Fills Void in Flin Flon A new centre in this northern locale is bringing together both artists and art lovers of all ages.
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From Bust to Boom Snow Lake on the verge of big changes with new industry, bigger population.
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Boreal Forest Agreement Picking up Steam CBFA celebrates its first anniversary. Land of Opportunities Beckons Hydro-electric projects combined with mining developments is fueling economic activity in Northern Manitoba, but this expansion region faces some challenges.
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Waste to Riches Bacteria with the Midas touch find gold in a stockpile of waste.
Northern Canvas Eight local artists share their vision, their stories, and their work. Diversifying Thompson’s Economy Group moves forward to weather economic challenges in wake of planned reductions at Vale mine. Wilderness Home Away from Home Logar Ventures/Neultin Fly-in Lodges creates “moon-base” work camp for drilling company.
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Manitoba Comes Alive in the Winter Lots of activities to fill your days in the northern playground.
Adventure North
Design & Layout John Lyttle Myles O’Reilly
NorMan News
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Sean Davis
Stone Wallace
The New Power in the North Manitoba’s two new hydro projects.
Women in Mining The culture, the complaints, and the value of communication.
Vice-President & Publisher
Managing Editor
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Northern Development
Publisher Lester Communications Inc. 701 Henry Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 1T9 Phone: 204-953-2189 Toll free phone: 1-866-953-2189 Fax: 204-953-2184 Toll free fax: 1-877-565-8557 www.lesterpublications.com
Experience NorMan
The Pas & Area
42 Cormorant 43 OCN (Opaskwayak Cree Nation) 44 The Pas 45 R.M. of Kelsey
Greenstone
46 Snow Lake 47 Flin Flon 48 Cranberry Portage
Northwest
49 Leaf Rapids 50 Lynn Lake
North central
51 Churchill 52 Cross Lake 53 Gillam 54 Norway House Cree Nation 56 Thompson 58 Nelson House 59 Bissett
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Lodges, Accommodations and Services Listing Index to Advertisers
On the cover Potentially antagonistic companies and organizations got together to come up with the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement. See page 18. Photo by Steven Wynn / photos.com
33 CENTRE
Manitoba’s Northern Experience
Map of northern Manitoba – use this issue’s map to plan your next adventure to northern Manitoba.
Norman Experience
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Experience NorMan W elcome to Manitoba’s Northern Experience magazine, a presentation of the NorMan Regional Development Corporation, and your gateway to the real Northern
Experience. The magazine has a dual focus on tourism and economic development. It is designed to offer a snapshot of not only things to see and do in the north, but also of developments in Manitoba’s largest region. The NorMan Region encompasses close to two-thirds of Manitoba’s land mass, making it easily the largest and most diverse in the province. The region’s range of activities and opportunities reflect that size and diversity. Common throughout NorMan are people who look forward to showcasing their communities, and who will greet you with a warm smile regardless of the temperature outside. • The NorMan Region is home to cultures that have called this area home for thousands of years. Come north and discover their traditions old and new. • The NorMan Region has a rich history of explorers and fur traders, from David Thompson, Samuel Hearne and John Franklin to countless voyageurs. Come north and do some exploring of your own. • The NorMan Region has some of the best sport fishing on the planet – walleye, pike and trout abound. Come north winter or summer and drop a line. • The NorMan Region was the site of Canada’s last gold rush. Come north and explore our mining history. • The NorMan Region is home to Pisew Falls, Wekusko Falls, Karst Springs and many other natural wonders. Come north and discover the wonder for yourself. • The NorMan Region is home to owls, gulls, geese, eagles and birds too numerous to list. Come north and discover world-class birding. • The NorMan Region is constantly growing with new hotels, malls, shops and services opening all the time. Come north and experience our traditional northern hospitality with all the services you expect. • The NorMan Region is buzzing with new hydro developments, mineral exploration, people making use of non-timber forest products and an exploding tourism industry. Come north and experience this growing region.
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Norman RDC • 1-800-665-4774
The NorMan Region is also home to the NorMan Regional Development Corporation (NorMan RDC). Like this magazine, we are focused on tourism and economic development. Manitoba’s Northern Experience is just one of our corporation’s projects. NorMan RDC consists of 10 cities and towns, 52 communities and numerous First Nations located north of the 53rd parallel, working with each other, businesses and government to strengthen and promote the region. Tourism is important to our northern communities and the people that make them great. The NorMan Regional Development Corporation has formed a strong partnership with Tourism North Manitoba, housing the office with our corporation. We invite you to contact Tourism North Manitoba or the NorMan Regional Development Corporation any time for further information on how you can discover the Northern Experience. u Contact us at 1-800-665-4774 or info@nrdc.ca
100% of our 2011 graduates were offered admission to leading universities in Canada, the U.S. and around the world. Explore how you can give your child the gift of a university preparatory boarding education.
Visit www.SJR.mb.ca 400 South Drive | Winnipeg MB | R3T 3K5 | Tel: 1.800.437.0040 | admissions@sjr.mb.ca
Norman Experience
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NorMan News
Province establishes Little Limestone Park New Park is Manitoba’s 85th
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Norman RDC • 1-800-665-4774
controlled by Mosakahiken Cree Nation. Mosakahiken Cree Nation Reserve land Chief Lake Phillip of Mosakahiken Cree ishealthy adjacentforever,” to Little said Limestone andBuck the park area. The Cree Nation and oth Nation. people continue to use the park area for hunting, trapping and fishing and will c exercise theirLimestone Aboriginal Lake and treaty rights in theispark. Little Provincial Park located approxi-
mately 450 kilometres north of Winnipeg, 65 kilometres north
Outstanding of the community ofFeatures Grand Rapids and adjacent to Mosakahiken Cree Nation Reserve parcel 31J.
Photos & map: Manitoba Conservation
ittle Limestone Lake has been established as Manitoba’s newest provincial park, protecting more than 4,800 hectares, as was announced in June by Conservation Minister Bill Blaikie. Little Limestone Lake is a marl lake. The water of a marl lake turns from clear to a stunning opaque turquoise or even a milky blue-white in warm summer weather. “This lake is true sign of mother nature’s beauty, and experts consider it to be the largest and most outstanding example of a marl lake in the world,” said Blaikie. “By designating it part of a provincial park we are taking the step that will protect it for generations to come.” This is the fourth new park to be established this year and adds to Manitoba’s total protected areas network of 6.5 million hectares, Blaikie added. A memorandum of understanding with the Mosakahiken Cree Nation (MCN) has also been reached which outlines a cooperative approach to managing the lake’s ecological integrity. First Nations and other Aboriginal people’s rights to access this area for hunting, trapping, fishing and other traditional pursuits will be respected, the minister said. Commercial fishing as presently conducted by members of MCN will also continue in the new park, said Blaikie MCN is working with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) on managing the area. “Mosakahiken considers protection and co-operative management of the lake and the land that supports it to be a high priority. Our memorandum of understanding with the province marks the launch of a process to explore expanding the park’s boundaries and ensures sustainable economic tourism opportunities for our community. We look forward to continuing our partnership with CPAWS and working with the province and local stakeholders to make certain Little Limestone Lake remains
The park overlies unique karst landscapes within near surface limestone bedrock Photos, maps and information on the new parksinkholes, are available the Grand Rapids community. The landscapes feature caves and othe atthe www.manitobaparks.com. by dissolving action of water on limestone. Ground waters flowing out of lim Limestone Lake contain concentrations of the mineral calcite.
Little Limestone Lake is considered by experts to be the largest and most outsta of a marl lake in the world. A marl lake changes colour as its water temperature summer months and calcite in the water separates, forming tiny crystals. In this s
New venture to improve supply chain to Nunavut
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new joint venture between Omnitrax Canada and some Inuit partners will try to expedite more freight activity destined for Nunavut out of Churchill. The formation of Nunavut Connections was announced in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, in August. It will attempt to better position Churchill to compete with northern-supply-chain services that operate out of Montreal. Initially it will offer stevedoring services in Churchill for freight headed to the Kivalliq region of eastern Nunavut. But Nunavut Connections officials said it will also pursue other supply-chain business opportunities in Nunavut. Initially the business will employ 12 people in Churchill. Members of the joint venture made it clear they hope the enterprise will address the long-standing concern that greater efficiencies are required on the
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Norman Experience
ground if Churchill is to become the resupply centre for Nunavut. Although a transportation infrastructure exists through northern Manitoba to Churchill, much of the freight traffic to the Nunavut region originates in Montreal. Efforts have been made to increase activity out of Churchill for some time, but industry officials have pointed out in the past that the supply chain from Winnipeg tends to break once goods get to Churchill. Churchill’s role as the northern terminus of a mid-continent trade corridor for goods moving further north into Nunavut is an important element of the overall business strategy of CentrePort Canada in Winnipeg. Transportation officials said in the past the supply-chain operations need to be in place in Churchill for Winnipeg shippers to be comfortable doing business with the Far North. Initially, Nunavut Connections will handle stevedoring services at the Port of Churchill, loading vessels and co-ordinating the movement of fuel and freight from the port to destinations in Nunavut.
Bactech hires C.O.O. for Snow Lake and Mexico
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acTech Environmental Corporation has announced that it has appointed Mr. David Salari, P.Eng., as Chief Operating Officer to oversee the Company’s Snow Lake and Chihuahua, Mexico projects. Mr. Salari is a metallurgical engineer with over 30 years’ experience in the mining and metallurgical industry. David is currently the President and CEO of DENM Ltd. since its inception in 2004, an engineering company that specializes in project management, construction management, and commissioning of small to medium scale mining projects. Recent D.E.N.M. projects have taken David across Canada, the USA, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela. David is a member of the Professional Engineers Association of Ontario and Nova Scotia and meets the requirements as a “QP” (qualified person) as set out in
Energy for Generations For 60 years, we’ve generated clean, renewable electricity for Manitoba using the natural flow of rivers. It started with construction of the Pine Falls Generating Station on the Winnipeg River and continued with our first hydroelectric developments on the Nelson River. Now, we are building the Wuskwatim Generating Station project on the Burntwood River in partnership with Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and continuing to plan for the Keeyask and Conawapa generating stations. By pursuing these projects, Manitoba Hydro is ensuring tomorrow’s generations will also enjoy the benefits of an affordable and environmentally friendly source of power. Find out more at www.hydro.mb.ca
Issue 2 • 2011 • Manitoba’s Northern Experience
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Continued from Page 5 the National Instrument 43-101 based on education, experience, independence, and affiliation with a professional association. BacTech is awaiting the completion of the NI-43-101 report for the arsenopyrite stockpile in Snow Lake, Manitoba which is anticipated to be received in the next month. In addition, the bioleach test work continues at Inspectorate Labs in Vancouver and is expected to be completed this fall. In addition to the Snow Lake and Chihuahua projects, BacTech has initiated test work on three additional projects.
Should the test work prove positive on any of these projects the Company will move to structure additional joint ventures. BacTech Environmental holds the exclusive, perpetual and royalty free rights to use the patented BACOX bioleaching technology for reclamation of tailings and mining waste materials. At present BacTech is investigating the use of the technology at historic tailing sites in Snow Lake, Manitoba and Chihuahua, Mexico.
50th Anniversary Celebration
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orthway Aviation Ltd. and Sasa-ginni-gak Lodge are celebrating 50 years in business. Northway Aviation operates from St. Andrews Airport (Winnipeg) serving four remote Manitoba communities as well as four communities in North-Western Ontario. Northway provides daily scheduled passenger and cargo service as well as charters for business or pleasure with a fleet of five Cessna Caravans. Northway services Sas Lodge in Atikaki Provincial Wilderness Park (and three outcamp lakes) with its two Caravans on amphib floats. Both Northway and Sas Lodge have been owned and operated by the Johnson family of Arnes, Manitoba since 1962. We are excited to announce a celebration of our
50th anniversary which will be held in Gimli, MB on April 14th, 2012. Please visit our website for additional details at www.northwayav.com.
Vale announces blueprint
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ale revealed its blueprint for the future in Canada anchored by a planned five-year investment program in excess of $10 billion to strengthen and expand its Canadian operations. “The investment program we’re pursuing is an indicator of the bright future we see for Vale in Canada,” said Tito Martins, Chief Executive Officer of Vale Canada and Executive Director, Base Metals for Vale. “These investments represent an important building block for the future of our Canadian operations. The dollars invested here will improve environmental performance, unlock new market opportunities, increase efficiencies and strengthen our global competitiveness for years to come.” Large-scale investments have already commenced and will continue to ramp-up in 2011, said Mr. Martins, noting that in addition to the direct benefits accrued to Vale’s operations, the projects promise to generate significant economic opportunities for communities and suppliers over the next five years. The five-year investment program combines recently started projects with projects yet to begin. It follows a comprehensive review of Vale’s Canadian operations that addressed issues of efficiencies, aging infrastructure, environmental performance and creating a long-term sustainable future.
porting our community; ating our shared future.
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Norman RDC • 1-800-665-4774
As part of its base metals blueprint for the future, Vale is focusing its efforts in Thompson, Manitoba on developing new sources of ore as it transitions its operations to mining and milling with the phasing out of smelting and refining by 2015. This enables Vale to better align processing capacity with mineral reserves while meeting the company’s environmental commitments. Two key issues underpin the operating changes in Manitoba. Mineral reserves in Thompson have not been sufficient to operate the smelter and refinery at full capacity for some time. To account for this shortfall, Vale has been importing as much as 45 per cent of the nickel processed in Thompson from sources outside Manitoba. This external feed is no longer available after 2013. Also contributing to the change are new federal SO2 emission standards expected to come into effect in 2015. The new standards require a reduction in airborne emissions of approximately 88 per cent from current levels at the Thompson operation. Vale has concluded that it cannot practically meet this new regulatory standard in Manitoba. “We see a strong and long-term future for our operations in Manitoba,” said Mr. Martins. “It’s a future that will look different than it does today, but it is one that we believe will allow our operations to continue there for many, many years to come and
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i Bu
ld in
Photo: Felix Beatageist
Pisew Falls Provincial Park, located just south of Thompson.
one that will allow Thompson to remain a vibrant and important contributor to the northern Manitoba economy.” Vale is already taking steps to develop the next generation of ore sources needed to create a long-term, sustainable mining base. Current plans at the company’s Birchtree Mine see operations continuing well beyond 2020. At the same time, Vale is aggressively pursuing new mine development opportunities in northern Manitoba at both the Thompson 1-D and Pipe-Kipper deposits. The 1-D Project is currently examining alternatives to exploit a significant mineral resource base in the existing Thompson Mine. Currently in the pre-feasibility stage, the 1-D Project represents a potential investment of more than $1 billion in Manitoba’s mining future. The Pipe-Kipper Project is examining the mining potential of a metallurgically complex ultramafic ore resource. Concentrate qualities and recoveries achieved to date with a conventional milling flowsheet indicate a business case that warrants continued study. Pipe-Kipper is a high-volume, low-grade resource with the potential for many more years of mining activity in Thompson. As mine development projects continue, Vale is investing $150 million to upgrade its tailings containment facilities in Manitoba, which will aid the transition to a sustainable mining and milling future. Vale is also continuing an aggressive exploration program in the Thompson Nickel Belt that saw more than $25 million in expenditures last year directed at identifying and developing new ore sources for future operations. The program continues to generate encouraging results that support a sustainablemine-mill operation well into the future. “Vale is committed to Thompson’s success as a key contributor to our mining and milling operations in Canada,” said Mr. Martins. “The transition is still four to five years away and we will use that time wisely. We are committed to partnering with the provincial government, the community, our employees and other stakeholders to manage all aspects of the transition as effectively as possible and minimize potential impacts. This includes participating fully in the workforce adjustment process that has proven effective in similar situations elsewhere. It also includes looking for ways to bring new opportunities in innovation and diversification to Thompson that will allow us to retain this generation of employees and attract the next.” u
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Meetah Building Supplies sells: • Cement, rebar. • PWF lumber and plywood. • OSB, KB Board. • Engineered floor joists. • Engineered roof trusses. • Shingles, hardboard siding. • Aluminum Fascia Soffit. • PVC windows. • Steel-insulated doors. • Insulation, poly. • Floor coverings. • Drywall and taping supplies. • Panelling. • Paint and accessories. • Heating, plumbing, electrical packages. • Sewer and water holding tanks. • Adhesives, caulking, fasteners, nails, screws. • Appliances. • Complete housing packages. Meetah Building Supplies manufactures: • Kitchen cabinets. • Bathroom vanities. • Commercial millwork. • Residential exterior doors.
Residential and Commercial
Box 416 Nelson House, MB R0B 1A0 Phone: 204-484-2340 Fax: 204-484-2855
www.meetah.ca Issue 2 • 2011 • Manitoba’s Northern Experience
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Supporting our community; creating our shared future.
There is no future without mining. And there can be no mining without caring about the future. Training future community leaders
Investing in forwardthinking programs
Enhancing tomorrow’s infrastructure
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Northern Development
Artist’s rendering of the Keeyask Generating Station.
The New Power in the North Manitoba’s two new hydro projects By Jim Chliboyko
Photos courtesy of Manitoba Hydro
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uskwatim and Keeyask: they may not be household names down in southern Manitoba – yet – but the names of the two projects are shorthand for a new era of power for northern Manitoba. Wuskwatim will be the first project completed. It’s the name of a $1.2-billion, 200-megawatt generating station on the Burntwood River southwest of Thompson, set to come partially online in early 2012. And Keeyask (once known as Gull) will be a $5.6-billion, 695-megawatt generating station, which will operate on the Nelson River (of which the Burntwood is a tributary), and will eventually become Manitoba Hydro’s fourth largest facility. “The first generator will come on in early 2012,” says Scott Powell of Manitoba Hydro. “All three may be ready by 2012.” But building a dam is not a quick process. It takes years and years as well as a small army of hundreds of people. “The current workforce, I believe, it’s somewhere around 500 employees,” says Powell of the Wuskwatim project. “Peak
employment was last year and year before. It’s mostly electrical and mechanical now.” But for Manitoba Hydro, Wuskwatim is also the start of a new way of doing things, specifically with the people that live near the dam. The project features “an equity partnership between Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) and Manitoba Hydro, the Wuskwatim Power Limited Partnership.” Wuskwatim, and the partnership, according to Manitoba Hydro, “… represents the first time we have entered into an equity partnership with a First Nations community on a generating station project.” The old way of building dams, throughout the world, often was a more paternalistic process, one where the builder gave the orders and local residents complied. Witness the Three Gorges Dam in China, one of the largest dams in the world, and one built fairly recently, which displaced an estimated 1.3 million people. But with Wuskwatim, Manitoba Hydro is hoping to show the world that there is a different way of accomplishing large hydroelectric projects. Instead of displacing local residents, Issue 2 • 2011 • Manitoba’s Northern Experience
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Aerial photograph of the Wuskwatim Generating Station under construction on the Burntwood River.
they are providing them with jobs and even a chance to own part of the project. The project is different environmentally, too. Also significant is that Wuskwatim is projected to only flood one half of one square kilometre of flooding, the lowest amount of any Manitoba Hydro project. “It’s a completely new way of doing things, working with our aboriginal partnership,” says Powell. “Manitoba Hydro is managing construction of the project on behalf of the partnership. NCN will have the opportunity to own up to 33 per cent of the partnership.” But just how novel is the partnership aspect of Wuskwatim? “Whether it’s the first and whether it’s the largest, it’s hard to say. In Canada, we believe it’s the first. From our perspective, it’s worked out very well. We’re pleased with how the project has gone at this stage.” Keeyask is a little further from completion. It’s set to be initially, partially, online by 2019, and fully online by 2021. (Hydroeletric projects come on one turbine at a time; as soon as one is installed, tested and ready to go, it’s then brought online, while attention turns to getting the next turbine installed, tested and ready.) The site is northeast of Thompson, and would join the Limestone, the Kelsey, the Long Spruce 10
Norman RDC • 1-800-665-4774
“These are partnership projects, not just Manitoba Hydro projects. These partnerships are quite unique. They’re good for everybody.” – Scott Powell, Manitoba Hydro and Kettle generating stations, all in the Split Lake Resource Management Area. Keeyask is slightly different in that it involves cooperation between both Manitoba Hydro and the four Keeyask Cree Nations; the Tataskweyak Cree Nation, War Lake First Nation, Fox Lake Cree Nation and York Factory First Nation. Theirs is called the Joint Keeyask Parternship Development Agreement (JKDA), “an agreement that governs how the project will be
ventures North developed, as well as setting out understandings related to potential income opportunities, training, employment, business opportunities and other related matters,” according to the JKDA website. The various parties signed the agreement during a ceremony held in 2009 in Split Lake. “It’s a similar sort of arrangement we have with Keeyask as we do with Wuskwatim,” said Powell. “But instead of a single First Nation (with this project), we have four. The Keeyask Cree Nations will collectively have the right to own up to 25 per cent of Keeyask, with the balance being owned by Manitoba Hydro.” Part of the Keeyask project also involves something called Individual Adverse Effects Agreements; these “outline procedures for the avoidance of adverse effects from the generating station and the establishment of programs to offset any unavoidable effects. Provision is made for programs to promote culture and language, ensure ongoing monitoring of environmental effects, increase Members’ access to and use of the resource area, and provide ongoing training and jobs for community members,” according to the Keeyask Hydropower Limited Development website. The basic work on getting Keeyask underway only just began this summer. What’s called the Keeyask Infrastructure Project is the current stage of the project, involving, among other things, a 25-kilometer long road through the bush to the construction site, as well as facilities that will be erected to otherwise help feed and take care of the workers. Powell says that the infrastructure project alone will provide 200 person-years of employment over three years.
Northern Development
“Once that’s complete – by May, 2014 – other construction should commence June, 2014,” said Powell. If everything goes according to plan, Keeyask, and the installation of its seven turbines, will provide 4500 person years of direct employment in the five to seven years during its construction. The hope is that the dam will benefit local people with employment and training, as well as those farther south who will benefit from the power produced. “There are all sorts of training initiatives in place (with the projects), in order to maximize northern employment and First Nations employment,” says Powell. The power generated by both Wuskwatim and Keeyask isn’t particularly earmarked for any one source. Rather, it’s fed into the general supply, which is then parsed out to various users, and clients. Both projects will help increase Manitoba Hydro’s capacity, which will help supply power-hungry markets (and future Hydro customers) like the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Both projects are also going to add a healthy boost to Manitoba Hydro’s numbers. Powell says comparatively, the Limestone facility produces 1340 megawatts, while Manitoba Hydro’s overall capacity is just over 5500 megawatts. However, Powell is quick to point out that these projects aren’t just single-entity initiatives. “These are partnership projects, not just Manitoba Hydro projects,” says Powell. “These partnerships are quite unique. They’re good for everybody.” u
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Issue 2 • 2011 • Manitoba’s Northern Experience
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Housing Crisis Remains Acute in Northern Manitoba
Mineral exploration has helped fill the housing void somewhat, but more public housing still remains a necessity By Lisa Kopochinski
In northern and remote areas of the province, there are basically two types of communities – a resource community built primarily because of mining and hydro development, and the First Nations communities set by treaties more than a century ago. Both types of housing in these communities have problems and in recent years there has been overlap, such as in Thompson. A mining town originally created in the 1950s for its huge nickel deposit, more First Nations are migrating from the reserves to Thompson, which brings another dimension to the housing crisis. Photos this page: Rights Managed by Thompson Unlimited photo Š Larry Hall
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Norman RDC • 1-800-665-4774
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Boom to Come
There are also those communities that used to be booming, but have since suffered because a mine has closed, for example. “Like Leaf Rapids,” says Mihychuk.” When the mines close, the town shuts down. There is no diversification. There is actually a surplus of housing, so values drop substantially. It’s a real tragedy.” Snow Lake is another town that has suffered, but is on the edge of an enormous boom. “Exploration is up in Manitoba. It’s the largest of any of our industries,” she says. “There has been a large discovery by HudBay Minerals there. There is a renewal of a mine in town that used to be called New Brittania that is now called Snow Lake Mines. But today, if you are a Snow Lake resident, it’s not booming. It will
Camperville.
Cross Lake duplex.
Photos courtesy of the Manitoba Provincial Government
he need for both more and affordable housing remains a critical issue for many northern Manitoba communities. Over the past decade, the supply of new housing has not kept pace with the demand. As well, the cost of building new housing has increased significantly in the current economy, making affordable homeownership an even tougher goal for many to attain. “It’s an acute situation,” says MaryAnn Mihychuk, a corporate relations specialist in Winnipeg and former Manitoba cabinet minister. “If you have been on First Nations communities, you can see that the housing is substandard and needs significant upgrade and repair. There are families with 10 or 12 people all sharing a small bungalow. You know the quality of life is seriously compromised.” Mihychuk, who has spent a great deal of time up north and in remote areas of the province, says there are basically two types of communities there – a resource community built primarily because of mining and hydro development in such centres as Thompson, Flin Flon, Snow Lake, Lynn Lake and Leaf Rapids; and the First Nations communities set by treaties more than a century ago. Both types of housing in these communities have problems and in recent years there has been overlap, such as in Thompson. A mining town originally created in the 1950s for its huge nickel deposit, more First Nations are migrating from the reserves to Thompson, which brings another dimension to the housing crisis. “Thompson has vacancy rate of 0.2 per cent,” says Mihychuk. “That is outrageous and unacceptable. It means people – maybe single moms – are living in a basement room with their family. It’s temporary housing and perhaps not up to standard because people are so desperate for housing.” Harold Smith, executive director, Northern Housing Operations for Manitoba Housing, says that northern centres often face different housing challenges. “Remote communities face high costs for material and seasonal transportation challenges, which impact the cost of building and maintaining homes. And most northern communities are also experiencing a shortage of skilled labour. Local housing demand changes from time to time based on economic conditions or as a result of changes in the availability of housing on neighbouring First Nation communities.” He adds that many communities have either weak or nonexistent homeownership markets, thereby reducing the incentive for private investment. In addition, demand for housing follows changes in the resource-based economy, which can fluctuate.
Frontier After.
boom in maybe a year. Speculation has driven up house prices, but present residents are asking where the jobs are.” Conversely, Flin Flon is doing quite well, Mihychuk adds. Housing there has exploded with the discovery of copper and zinc and it’s been a healthy community because of mining for over 85 years. “I wouldn’t say they have a housing crisis in Flin Flon because the workforce is compensated. The wages are higher than any other industrial sector and there are a lot of beautiful homes there.” There is also the belief by some that communities can be held “hostage” by industries that say they want to increase housing to accommodate workers and business, but really are just camps. Mihychuk says that there are those people who come into town for a project for a specific period of time – perhaps a year or two – so a different kind of housing is required. “What a company typically does is bring in temporary housing in the camp and they will put it on their own location or on Crown Land. Modular units and trailers may also be used for the workers. This offers limited opportunity for the community. But Issue 2 • 2011 • Manitoba’s Northern Experience
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“It’s an acute situation. If you have been on First Nations communities, you can see that the housing is substandard and needs significant upgrade and repair. There are families with 10 or 12 people all sharing a small bungalow. You know the quality of life is seriously compromised.” – MaryAnn Mihychuk, a corporate relations specialist in Winnipeg and former Manitoba cabinet minister.
once the project is completed, permanent workers will be needed. Then the infrastructure will need to be improved.” Adds Smith, “Coordination is required between communities, industry and government in order to address both the long-term housing needs of a community, and short term employee-housing needs related to spikes in economic activity.”
Provincial and Federal Solutions
Over the years, both the federal and provincial governments have tried to remedy the ailing housing situation, but the journey is long with still much more to accomplish. Smith is happy to report that through Manitoba Housing, construction has been completed or is underway on 90 new family units in the north. “And we continue to work with communities to plan new build projects to meet the specific needs of northern communities.” He also says a homeownership program was announced in early July that could strengthen rural communities by increasing the number of homeowners relative to tenants within those communities.
“Existing homeowner repair programs have been given a lot of attention in the north recently, assisting 22 low-income households in repairing the homes they own and occupy. These programs help to keep these privately owned homes safe and reduce the demand for rental housing in northern communities.” Additionally, the province’s Northern Development Strategy (NDS) is a long-term plan to improve – among many things – quality affordable housing in northern communities. “As part of the NDS, the Northern Region of the Department of Housing and Community Development is now responsible for property management, housing delivery, capital projects, and delivery of the Neighbourhoods Alive! program in the region,” says Smith. “The establishment of the regional office [in Thompson] has helped to make sure that these programs are well coordinated and relevant to our communities.” There is also HOMEWorks!, a $327-million, two-year investment plan of the provincial and federals governments as part of Manitoba’s long-term housing strategy. Under this initiative, there are eight areas, including affordable housing options for northern Manitoban and urban Aboriginals. At present, Manitoba has 35,000 public housing units with 1,900 in northern Manitoba distributed across 62 communities, which Mihychuk says is nowhere near enough. “We need to give people the opportunity to transition from being unemployed, or on the system 100 per cent, to standing on their own two feet. This is what we want to happen, but haven’t seen it actually implemented. This would make a big difference to a lot of people and get them on the road to success. There has to be a bridge.” u
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Women in Mining The culture, the complaints, and the value of communication By Shelley Wildgen
A
woman’s place is in the mine! Or is it? Despite the fact that many Canadian women feel strongly about making mining their career choice, it’s not always easily attained. A recent study released by Women in Mining (WIM) Canada showed that only 14.4 per cent of the mining industry workforce is female, making it the lowest representation among primary industry categories in Canada. The reasons for such a poor showing are as diverse as the potential jobs available. Last January, two women filed complaints of sexual harassment and assault while working at BHP Billiton’s Ekati diamond mine in the Northwest Territories. They stated that co-workers and supervisors harassed them from their first day on the job and they’ve named BHP Billiton, Procon Mining and Tunnelling, and the N.W.T. Mine Training Society in their civil suit. The complaints range from the absence of toilet facilities to improper safety gear. Lawsuits aside, choosing a mining career is rarely simple for women. According to Mary Ann Mihychuk, President of WIM Canada, and former Manitoba Minister of Mines, “I’ve been in this business for 34 years, and it’s been a glacial change to bring women into mining…very slow.” There was a time when female mine workers were commonplace due to the significant shortage of male workers but, says Mihychuk, “women haven’t made many gains since they were kicked out of the mines after World War 2”, and despite strides made in other industries, mining remains “the only industry that has resisted the incorporation of women into the work force.” John Stokmans is a senior geologist in a western open pit coal mine, and he says it’s really about abilities. Referring to a firefighter debate in Ontario some years ago, Stokmans states, “If a guy was 98 pounds and trying to carry me out of a fire, I wouldn’t want him to if he wasn’t capable, nor should he want to…same applies for women operating heavy equipment in a mine. If a person doesn’t have the ability, regardless of gender, they shouldn’t be doing the job. It all comes out during training, and physical size may play a part.”
Issue 2 • 2011 • Manitoba’s Northern Experience
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Stokmans feels strongly that “if you’re physically and mentally able to do the job then go for it – but if you’re not, don’t try to make others accept you for the job.” According to Mihychuk, “In university about 10 or 20 years ago, there were about 40 per cent females in the geology and engineering classes, now 20 per cent because of it being so difficult to get hired.” She explains, “One of the biggest challenges is you’re changing the mindset in how things are done. We lose a lot of valuable women during their child-bearing years. Women with children are still expected to go into remote areas for extended periods of times so a lot of women leave the industry and go into teaching or law or office work.” Women in Mining (WIM) Canada, in partnership with MiHR, launched “Ramp-UP: A Study on the Status of Women in Canada’s Mining and Exploration Sector.” The appeal of mining career opportunities was addressed and revealed a marked difference in the perspectives of women, sector employers and educators. One-third of educators and employers believe that working conditions need to be addressed. With the exception of the need for flexible work arrangements, many employers reported no female-specific barriers exist in the sector, while agreeing with the need for flexible work arrangements. Nearly two-thirds of female employees believe that some working conditions need to be addressed for women to succeed in the industry. Heather Bruce-Veitch, HR general manager at the Iron Ore Company of Canada and Ramp-UP steering committee member, believes “this disconnect sends a message to keep the momentum going. Employers are demonstrating progress but employees are
saying there is still far more work to be done to get to where we need to be.” The major issue identified by women was inflexible work arrangements, followed by workplace culture, and the need to receive ample notice for travel assignments and working in remote locations. Providing scheduling flexibility was also identified as something that would assist female workers in coordinating home and work responsibilities. John Stokmans does not dismiss problems for women in mines, and believes solutions are possible with some creative thinking. “When I worked at Quintette Operating Corporation, a coal mine in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., I knew of two women mining engineers who job shared when they had children, and it worked very well. They came up with their own solution and the company agreed to it.” Stokmans goes on to say that “I don’t see it as a question of gender. In my mine, we have jobs open for everything from janitorial, to administrative to technical services, back hoes, small haul trucks, large haul trucks, dozers lots of equipment. Regardless of gender, you get paid the rate for that piece of equipment. You have to pass the training and then bid from one job to another depending on seniority.” According to the 2007 Survey Results of the Canadian Mine Salaries, Wages & Benefits, average salaries are healthy. This data comes from 42 mines (19 underground and 23 open pit) in Canada: General Manager = $168K; Mine Manager = $133K; Chief Engineer = $98K; Mine Geologist = $74K; Personnel Manager = $99K; Secretary = $44K.
Northern Development
Photo: Forest Products Association of Canada
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In western Canada, the top grossing general manager earned $265K; the top grossing senior engineer received $141K; and the top grossing personnel manager made $136K. For Canadian surface mines, here are some averages in dollars per hour: Electrician = 30; mechanic = 27; Heavy Equipment Operator = 25; Drill Operator = 26; Labourer = 19. Underground mine electrician earn less (27 vs. 30), whereas labourers earn more (21 vs. 19.) Stokmans acknowledges the great pay and remembers when the mine culture for women was much worse. “More than 30 years ago women weren’t allowed underground – it was considered bad luck. The stigma still exists with some miners. A lot of the guys are old school guys.” u
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Issue 2 • 2011 • Manitoba’s Northern Experience
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Boreal Forest Agreement Picking up Steam CBFA celebrates its first anniversary
By Jim Chliboyko
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ure, South America has the Amazon but Canada has the boreal forest. Or part of it. And recently, there has been a major agreement put in place to protect a big part of this country’s natural heritage. The boreal forest encompasses a vast stretch of an estimated 60 per cent of Canada, most of it above the 50th parallel. It’s not just Canada, though; Russia and Scandinavia also boast important areas of boreal forest. But there has been recognition lately that Canada’s northern forest is something that needs to be even more properly protected. To that end, a number of potentially antagonistic companies and organizations got together to come up with the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement (CBFA); altogether, 21 members of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC)--forestry companies, in other words--and nine environmental organizations have signed on to the agreement, which involves 76 million hectares (over 187 million acres) of Canadian boreal forest stretching from coast to coast to tundra. FPAC spokesperson Avrim Lazar calls the agreement an “outrageously ambitious idea.” “Changing economic realities and heightened public and marketplace concern over environmental issues have created both problems and opportunities for Canada’s forest industry and environmental organizations,” it says on the agreement website. “While the future of forestry and conservation in 18
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Canada’s Boreal Forest rests primarily with governments, both industry and environmentalists have a shared responsibility to help define and realize that future… The Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement sees both parties committed to working together in the marketplace and on the ground to support governments in the realization of a stronger, more competitive forestry industry and a better protected, more sustainably managed Boreal Forest.” “It was signed after about two years of conversation leading up to it, on June 18, 2010,” says FPAC’s Mark Hubert. He is FPAC’s Vice President Mark Hubert, FPAC’s of Climate Change Leadership, but Vice President of also happens to be the executive direcClimate Change tor of the CBFA. “The conversations Leadership, executive that lead up to it were about two years director of the CBFA. in the making between the majority of the parties. There have been relationships between the parties over the course of the last number of years and, yes, there were differences of opinion of parties in the forest sector and the conservation groups. But there were also relationships that existed.”
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Northern Development
Mark Hubert photo: Forest Products Association of Canada. Boreal forest images: photos.com
Besides the caribou, there are plans to more quickly develop species-at-risk protections for other denizens of the boreal forest. There will also be further development on sustainable forest management practices, as well as more work on issues of climate change.
So how are the environmental organizations and the forest companies working together? Part of the agreement involves the suspension of logging in 29 million hectares in caribou-rich areas, “to allow for intensive caribou protection planning while maintaining essential fibre supply for uninterrupted mill operations,” according to the website. Besides the caribou, there are plans to more quickly develop species-at-risk protections for other denizens of the boreal forest. There will also be further development on sustainable forest management practices, as well as more work on issues of climate change. And there will also be some recognition specifically regarding forest-dependent communities, as well as marketplace strategies to better promote products that emerge from more sustainable forest practices. The environmental organizations, meanwhile, have agreed to suspend their do-not-buy and divestment campaigns against companies working in the boreal forest.
“To our knowledge, this is the largest agreement of its kind in the world, and the only one of this scale,” says FPAC’s Hubert. “It’s groundbreaking in both a Canadian sense and an international sense. Parties in Germany and Sweden and around the world are looking at this, for the most part with admiration, we hope.” Hubert says there has been media interest, too, from all over the world, whether it’s been Canadian Geographic, National Geographic, as well as a variety of foreign newspapers. Even consulates from various countries have gotten in touch with FPAC about the agreement. “We certainly think it is a paradigm shift,” says John Dunford, Tolko’s sustainability manager. “One surprise was how (quickly) people gelled and started trusting each other.” In terms of numbers, Manitoba has more than 56 million hectares of boreal forest within its boundaries, over 13 million of which are FPAC member
tenure lands and happen to fall under the agreement. (Manitoba’s proportion of commercial forest in the boreal zone
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photos.com
Northern Development
The Other Agreement Earlier this summer, the Asatiwisipe Aki Management Plan (or “the Poplar River Lands Management Plan”) was announced. An agreement between the Poplar River First Nation and the government of Manitoba, the Asatiwisipe Aki encompasses “the entire 862,000 hectares (2,500,000 acres) of the Poplar River Anishinabek Traditional Territory, including all 15 traplines of the Poplar River Trapline District,” according to the plan’s website. The area is on the east side of Lake Winnipeg, several hundred kilometres northeast of Winnipeg. The area is part of the future Pimachiowin Aki UNESCO bid that the current NDP government favours, and Poplar River is the first community to present an initiative under the East Side Traditional Lands Planning and Special Protected Areas Act. The plan will promote sustainable use of the land while protecting it from industrial-scale development.
is almost 16 million hectares.) Over 10 million hectares of Manitoba caribou range are covered by the agreement, and there are commitments to no harvesting or road building with 9.9 million hectares of this land. The particular companies participating in the agreement within Manitoba are Tembec, Tolko and Louisiana-Pacific. Forestry is not an insignificant industry to Manitoba. Manitoba’s forest industry is estimated to provide over 6,000 direct jobs and 10,000 indirect jobs to the Manitoba economy, adding $1.8 billion to the GDP, as well as adding $1.1 billion of manufactured goods to the economy. Manitoba forest products make up 3.1 per cent of provincial product exports, a value of an estimated $328 million. FPAC’s Hubert says that Manitoba has some of the largest forestry operations in Canada. It’s just the start of things, though. The agreement celebrated its first birthday this past June. “For the first year, it was spent trying to understand the different cultures. We’ve sometimes come at the world from different angles,” said Hubert. “Now, many of those questions have
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been answered, you can run it more like a business or stand-alone entity.” And while the agreement doesn’t necessarily have a shelf life, it is referred to as a three-year roadmap with provisions built in to possibly extend the life of the ‘map.’ “What was done when the agreement was signed was to establish three years of milestones, not with the expectation that the agreement would come to an end, but once we had the relationship in place that it would be an ongoing endeavour,” says Hubert. This ongoing endeavour is not much different in Manitoba than elsewhere, with ENGOs previously speaking in one ear and industry speaking in the other. Now, for provincial governments, the hope is that the CBFA makes their job easier by having two parties coming to government with agreements. But there are more groups to entertain, as well. “In Manitoba that’s our (next) focus, to get the First Nations involved,” says Doug Hunt, Tolko’s Woodlands Manager for Manitoba. “Obviously, they are right on the landscape, so their support is paramount.” One adjustment was that Manitoba and Saskatchewan were initially supposed to make up one single district, says Hunt, but that idea was nixed once participants realized how different the two provinces’ forestry situations were. But so far, Hubert has been satisfied with the first year of the agreement. “To be honest with you, I’m astonished at how well things have gone. When you step back and look at the agreement from a distance, we have come up with work plans and terms of reference, in one year, after having decades of time when we weren’t necessarily talking to each other. I’m amazed there’s been as much progress as there has been.” Says Tolko’s Dunford, “Manitoba is a good example of where people were truly coming together from the start.” u
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Northern Development
Land of Opportunities Beckons Hydro-electric projects combined with mining developments is fueling economic activity in Northern Manitoba, but this expansion region faces some challenges
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orthern Manitoba is a resource-rich region that’s vast and mostly untapped – offering abundant opportunities for developments in mining and tourism, says Graham Starmer, chairman of the NorMan Regional Development Inc. and president of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. Presently, the development of hydro-electric generating stations and mining operations are having the biggest impact on the northern economy. The provincial government says that Manitoba Hydro’s $5.6 billion Keeyask generating station and the $1.3 billion Wuskwatim projects will create over 2,000 jobs. While these projects and others have spurred the economy, there are also challenges. Starmer says he has been extremely busy dealing with the potential impact that the decrease of Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) grain shipments will have on the Port of Churchill. The CWB is slated to lose its monopoly on marketing wheat in 2012. According to the CWB, the wheat accounts for 90 per cent of all shipments through the port. Starmer says he’s looking at what alternative products could be shipped from Churchill. One option is to use the port to resupply communities and mining operations in the Nunavut territory. Currently, Nunavut is being resupplied by a freighter from Montreal. But it may be more feasible to ship goods from Churchill because of the increasingly longer shipping seasons. Climate change has resulted in the ice breaking up sooner and freezing later. But on a brighter note, Starmer says, “Churchill is doing extremely well with its tourism – attracting visitors from Europe and Japan.” Known as the polar bear capital of the world, Churchill is a great destination for the emerging eco-tourism market. Talks are also ongoing with the provincial and federal governments about opportunities for the Churchill port to offer future shipping routes to Russian, China and Brazil.
Another issue facing the region is the high cost of transportation. Also, the increasingly milder winters are reducing the days winter roads can operate. But an innovative solution could be at hand. Starmer is convinced that airship transportation will be a cheap way of re-supplying northern Manitoba. A test project is underway. These modern blimps are fuel efficient, require minimal infrastructure and carry freight loads from 20-to-50 tons. The Lalor deposit has the Despite the challenges, potential to be a significant an important sector has seen producer of zinc and gold. growth. “The mines in the Top image: an Lalor aerial view. north have been expanding quite well, but government support has fallen behind in comparison with the other provinces,” Starmer says. There are ongoing discussions between the Manitoba Mining Association and the province to resolve the issues involved in conducting mining operations on aboriginal land or hunting grounds. “If you have a mine on aboriginal land or traditional hunting areas, then you have to negotiate with them to resolve some of the issues,” says Starmer. “There’s a confusion over roles of whether it’s actually the mines that have to negotiate with the aboriginal people or the government. This is not unique, this is consistent across Canada.” Starmer says the provincial government is leaving it up to the mining companies to negotiate agreements but they are not really set up for it. Issue 2 • 2011 • Manitoba’s Northern Experience
Photos courtesy of Brian Pieters Photography
By Dan Proudley
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Ed Huebert, executive vice-president of the Mining Association of Manitoba Inc., says that while Manitoba’s mining industry is growing, it could be doing better. Manitoba and the Northwest Territories are the only jurisdictions in Canada that show a decline in exploration permits this year. According to Natural Resources Canada statistics, Manitoba’s mineral production in 2010 was worth $1.6 billion, up from the previous year of $1.4 billion. Still, that’s far below a high of $2.5 billion in 2007. Last year, $79.3 million was spent on exploration and deposit appraisal activities which is down from 2009 when it reached $97.8 million. That’s significantly less than the $152 million posted in 2008. Delays in getting approval for exploration permits, which in some cases have taken up to four years, is hurting the mining industry, says Huebert. “That’s fairly unique in Canada. The rest of the country has taken great pains to benefit from some very attractive investment opportunities.” This year is a big year for mineral exploration in Canada which is estimated at $3.2 billion, says Huebert. Normally, Manitoba’s exploration activity is about 5 per cent of the national activity putting the province at $160 million, but the province will not reach that share this year. “We have every opportunity,” he says. “Right now we are falling short. We are working with the government on this issue and we have to be optimistic.” Manitoba Minster of Innovation, Energy and Mines, Dave Chomiak says the province has made significant strides in improving the permit approval process. “For example, we issued an
84 Severn Crescent Thompson, Manitoba
Environment Act license for the Minago mine in a little over a year, which we believe is on par with other jurisdiction,” he says. The provincial government has forecasted an increase in mineral exploration and deposit appraisal expenditures for 2011 compared to 2010. “For 2011, we forecast expenditures to increase 45 per cent to $115 million, compared to $79.3 million in 2010,” he says. And there are some major developments underway in the mining sector, which include: • Victory Nickel will soon start developing the Minago mine near Grand Rapids. • HudBay Minerals is constructing the $700 million Lalor mine in Snow Lake and will be starting initial test mining at their Reed Lake deposit south of Snow Lake next year. • Mega Precious Metals is planning a mine development at its Monument Bay gold project near Red Sucker Lake. • San Gold continues to expand their Rice Lake gold mine in Bissett, achieving record gold production and discovering significant additional gold reserves. • Several companies are studying the re-opening of the following mines: Auriga Gold – Puffy Lake gold mine near Sherridon; St Eugene – Tartan gold mine near Flin Flon; Carlisle Goldfields – MacLellan gold mine in Lynn Lake; and Alexis Minerals – the New Britannia gold mine in Snow Lake. With all this activity, Frank Whitehead, MLA in The Pas, says he feels very positive about the growth of resource-based industries in northern Manitoba. “It’s making the communities stronger. I am very optimistic about the development of northern Manitoba.” u
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Northern Development Snow Lake stockpile.
Waste to Riches Bacteria with the Midas touch find gold in a stockpile of waste
By Heather Hudson
Top photo courtesy of BacTech Environmental. Gold illustration: photos.com
I
t sounds like something out of a fairy tale. After all, turning garbage into gold is not something that happens in real life, does it? Apparently, it does, thanks to the appetite of some hungry bacteria with the Midas touch. Last spring, BacTech Environmental won a multi-million dollar contract to introduce North America’s first bio lacheate plant right in our own backyard in Snow Lake. The company proposes to transform tons of potentially hazardous waste left by Alexis Minerals back in the 1950s into two piles: one non-toxic and the other precious gold. Mary Ann Mihychuk, a geologist and former Manitoba Mines minister, has been consulting with the company to bring the technology to the province since March 2010. “BacTech approached me for assistance working in the province. They explained that they use naturally occurring bugs, bacteria, to remove arsenic from metals. This is called bioleaching. At the Titanic Exhibit in Winnipeg recently, I saw the process at its best where these kinds of bacteria are actually eating away at the Titanic. These same bugs can be used to consume metals and clean up environmental disasters. “It’s a very practical and profitable way to deal with potential hazardous waste.” Here’s how it works: Gold molecules, like the ones in the Snow Lake stockpile, are often surrounded by arseno pirate, more commonly known as arsenic. Traditional methods of separating these iron arsenic particles from the gold were not always successful. Mihychuk says the industry has used smelting, which releases potentially toxic emissions, to try and break that molecule to no avail.
Bioleaching, on the other hand, employs the use of naturally occurring bacteria, harmless to both humans and the environment, to unlock the molecules and convert them into a stable form called ferric arsenate, a benign end product, eliminating the potentially hazardous portion. BacTech has a collection of strains of bacteria sourced from around the world. Mihychuk says that they can be found just about everywhere but it’s best to use a variety from all over for optimal results. With three commercial plants, two in Australia and one in China, BacTech Environmental was convinced they could get the same stellar results with the mound of potentially hazardous waste in Snow Lake. Back in the 1950s, Alexis Minerals was left with naturally occurring rocks that contained arsenic. Without a satisfactory Issue 2 • 2011 • Manitoba’s Northern Experience
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process to extract the gold, the company stockpiled it with the thought that one day they would go back and cure it. “This material is actually concentrated. It’s already been crushed and semi-processed so it doesn’t have any other potentially hazardous waste. It’s a high grade opportunity with the right technology,” explains Mihychuk. Up until now, piles like this were either put underground under cement as fill or in a facility underneath water, which prohibits the oxidation or release of any potential harm. These are called tailings ponds. One of the advantages of the bioleaching process, besides the obvious release of gold, is that it permanently takes care of the historic waste, reducing environmental harm. “There is a program in Canada instituted by government that basically goes about capping old deposits, putting a layer of clay or other material on top and continuously monitoring the site to ensure there’s no pollution coming from it,” said Mihychuk. “Boleaching is even better because it treats all of that in situ material forever. We’re not just capping it – which in a storm could open or something else could happen in the future – we’re actually treating the waste product into a way that’s not going to cause problems in the future, with no cost to the public purse.” Mihychuk goes on to explain that the traditional way of managing these materials is to use tax money to cap and monitor the sites. With this new process, BacTech will profit from the gold held in the waste material. The revenue from the gold
allows the company to take care of the waste site and potential environmental harm. “BacTech was very interested in seeing if they could get hold of that deposit [in Snow Lake] and take care of it. After the bacteria have done their work, the newly benign waste product will go into tailing and the other will be a sediment laden with gold, ready to be processed and poured.” Though Alexis Minerals is not in production at this time, Mihychuk says they hope to be up and running within the year so they can process the material and pour the gold for BacTech. “We’re hoping this will happen within 12 months. We need to locate a site and go through the environmental studies and then we’re ready to go.” How profitable is the site expected to be? A recent analysis showed that 9.6 grams of gold can be extracted per ton. “This is a multi-million dollar contract in that we are looking at $20 million for the plant and we anticipate that there is over $100 million worth of gold in the pile.” When it’s up and running, Mihychuk says Snow Lake will be home to state-of-the-art technology not seen anywhere else in North America. “We’re hoping that the traditional mining companies will see the use of bioleach as an option for them for their own processing of their in situ ore deposits. The technology can be used to clean up waste but it can also be used for present day mining. There’s lots and lots of opportunity.” We’ll never look at bugs quite the same way. u
Eyaa-Keen Healing Centre Inc. Eyaa-Keen Healing Centre Inc. focuses on providing a unique form of Aboriginal Traditional based therapeutic trauma treatment and psychological rehabilitation. They facilitate the process for people to start living fully alive, thriving, and making good decisions in their own lives. Eyaa-Keen's programs and services are designed to improve the well-being of Aboriginal people by addressing issues and strengthening the goals in their life through a series of Aboriginal Traditional based sessions. Individual/Group sessions address the needs of survivors of the Residential Schools Legacy, victims of crime, domestic violence, and survivors of a loved one’s suicide, sudden accidental death, and other traumas and losses.
Programs and Services: * Being Me, Being Free
* Elder Support Services
* Highway of Life
* Resolution Health Support Worker Program
* Ki-da-do-dun-kay-go Program
* Healing Our Way to Healthy Living Program
Paskwayak
Business Development Corp. Ltd.
“The Economic Development Division of Opaskwayak Cree Nation since 1987”
• • • • • • • • • •
IGA Kikiwak Inn OCN Shell Big E-Mart Sports Traders Paskwayak Convenience Store Northland Redi-Mix Concrete and Gravel Atawawen Mart OCN Blizzard Otineka Mall P.O. Box 10100, Opaskwayak, MB R0B 2J0, phone: 204 - 627-7200 fax: 204 - 623 - 6830, Opaskwayak, Manitoba is located on the outskirts of The Pas.
Eyaa-keen Healing Centre has been providing Behavioural Health Treatment and support services since 1999. For more information on these or any of the services provided by Eyaa-keen, please visit our website at www.eyaa-keen.org or call Rayne at (204) 783-2976 or email: contact@eyaa-keen.org
Eyaa-Keen is internationally accredited by CARF
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Norman RDC • 1-800-665-4774
Retail space is available at the Otineka Mall for more information to rent space call Ginger Sinclair, Otineka Mall Manager Phone: 204-627-7230 Fax: 204-623-2770 Box 10310 Opaskwayak, MB R0B 2J0 Email: ginger@otinekamall.ca Website: www.otinekamall.ca
ventures North
Northern Development
Art Centre Fills Void in Flin Flon A new centre in this northern locale is bringing together both artists and art lovers of all ages By Lisa Kopochinski
CC Trubiak display photo and photo of artists at work courtesy of Sarah Trevor, NorVa Centre
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or Flin Flon’s artist community, a huge need has been filled with the opening of the new Northern Visual Arts Centre last winter. Located on Green Street in the old “Johnny’s” building, local businessmen Greg East and Mark Rowe purchased the well-known landmark in mid 2010, which had a been a grocery/ convenience store, lunch counter and sports shop before it closed with the arrival of Wal-Mart. With an interest in the arts, the partners hosted an art reception during the annual Trout Festival last year that motivated a group of artists to see if an actual arts centre could be viable. Fortunately it was and, in November 2010, NorVA was born. “Before NorVA, there was really nothing,” says Sarah Trevor, a local artist and chairperson of the Flin Flon Art Council’s steering committee who is one of the individuals instrumental in getting this project off the ground. “Several times the arts council had tried the start a gallery but the problem was always if you are going to have artists run a centre, they have to have space to work.” Spearheaded with funding from the Royal Bank Emerging Artists Program and founding patrons HudBay Minerals and the Flin Flon Neighbourhood Revitalization Committee, NorVA spans 1,500 square feet and provides painters, fibre artists and photographers with enough space to create and display their work.
With ample room for 10 to 14 artists, NorVA regularly welcomes new resident artists. Soon approaching its one-year anniversary, so far the centre has held 17 classes and workshops for all ages. “Paintings on display range from representational landscapes to close ups of trees, rocks and ice that border on the abstract, as well as themes of First Nation’s legend and spirituality,” says Trevor. “The Canadian Shield and boreal forest provide infinite inspiration, as does mining on which Flin Flon depends. One artist creates copper collages from scraps of spilled copper from the smelter floor.” NorVA has offered classes in oil painting, water colour and acrylic, drawings in pen and pastel, mixed media, clay, painting on denim, batik, sarong making, silk scarf dying and a drop-in drawing and painting class for young children, which has been hugely popular. “Our artists were invited to run a series of classes in one of the elementary schools, and the Arts Council in The Pas invited us put on a sarong making and batik workshop,” she adds. In August, NorVA hosted a week-long art retreat with 36 artists attending, some from as far away as North Battleford, Issue 2 • 2011 • Manitoba’s Northern Experience
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Northern Development
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Sask. and Winnipeg. And next summer, NorVA artists are taking a show to the Cre8ery Gallery in Winnipeg – the first ever from Flin Flon. “Having space to share their skills with others in the community is a huge bonus for our local artists,” says Trevor. “Such a facility provides the community with the opportunity to get involved in activities that have not been available.” NorVA also provides a space for musical and poetry events. For instance, the centre hosted two alcohol-free open microphone nights in the spring that were especially appealing to the younger crowd. “Numbers tripled after the first one,” recalls Trevor. “And, at the end of our second open mike, local composer and musician Mark Kolt improvised his own pictures at an exhibition with music that blew the audience away. As a result of this overwhelming response, on October 2 during Culture Days, Mark and Swan River’s Martin Schnell will both improvise on the piano during a school photography exhibition at NorVA.”
Hometown Artist Returns
One particularly interesting art and music event happened in July with the return of Flin Flon resident CC Trubiak, a musician and photographer who left this northern locale for Ottawa, but who was ecstatic to return and display his work for several days. “In many ways, everything leading up to this exhibit was full circle in that it was the first time for me to share such a part of myself with my hometown, which I left in 1997 shortly after high school,” says Trubiak. “I had the distinct honour of coming home to showcase both “Hail the Narcissist” and “They Say I’m
Different” for Flin Flon, which I remain very connected to even after so many years.” Trubiak’s show consisted of a selection from his portrait photography coffee table book, which is a representation of his work over the past two years. Also showcased were 12 portraits, including WHEAT, FAMiLY PORTRAiT, and THE MAKEBELiEVERS. The “Artists Talk” component of the exhibit allowed Trubiak to discuss his work and what lies behind his craft in the different characters he slips into. “My Flin Flon roots are threaded throughout my photography and music,” he says. “The exhibit further allowed me an opportunity to perform a set from “They Say I’m Different,” as well as sing my original songs, many of which were inspired by my experiences growing up as a gay youth in a very isolated town. NorVA provided me with a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with my roots.”
Self-sustaining Operation
Resident artists are welcome to use NorVA at all hours and have their own keys. The centre is also open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and on Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. “The artists and board have worked tirelessly to make NorVA as close to self-sustaining as possible, while ensuring 10 per cent of space in all classes, workshops, resident artist spaces and the retreat are free of charge to those unable to pay or recommended by social agencies,” says Trevor. “And Johnny’s Coffee stop next door has been the best, providing dainties for functions and keeping artists in goodies and bottomless cups of coffee.” u
Affordable & Clean Rooms Daily & Monthly Rates Available Men, Women & Children Welcome Cafeteria Laundry Facility
204-778-6341
www.ywcathompson.ca 39 Nickel Road (Uptown) Thompson, MB R8N 0Y5
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Norman RDC • 1-800-665-4774
ventures North
Northern Development Outland Camp.
From Bust to Boom Snow Lake on the verge of big changes with new industry, bigger population By Heather Hudson
Business district of Snow Lake photo courtesy of Ken Peale. Outland camp (photo courtesy of Outland Camps.
T
he town of Snow Lake, Manitoba has seen its share of change in the 60 odd years it’s been around. But the best might be yet to come. A mining town through and through, Snow Lake knows a thing or two about boom and bust. It was formed in 1947, almost 30 years after gold was first discovered on the east shores of Wekusko Lake. Within 10 years, the town had ballooned to more than 650 people and boasted a hospital, a four-room school, curling rink and community hall. But when a town grows up around one main industry, it is susceptible to the ebb and flow of production. Residents have watched a near constant parade of companies opening and closing mines in their environs. This means progress and population count have been more of a stop and start than a steady climb in the small, picturesque town. At one time, more than 2,000 people set down roots here. But by 2008, Snow Lake was in a depressed state and today the population hovers at around 1,000. In boom times, the school and hospital were upgraded, a hockey rink, trailer park and more housing were built and other improvements made. But with only one mine in production since 2004, there seemed to be little hope of a town resurrection. That is until recently. Just last year, Alexis Minerals purchased New Britannia Gold Mine, renaming it Snow Lake Mine. The Chisel North Mine and Concentrator Mill were also reopened. Both good news, but it wasn’t until the construction of Lalor Zinc Mine, owned by HudBay Minerals, began last fall that people started to sense a boom headed their way. “The Lalor mine has the potential to put and keep Snow Lake on the map,” says Jeff Precourt, chief administrative officer for the town of Snow Lake. “It’s an absolutely huge mining project. There have been a lot of bold statements made about Lalor, including that it’s the largest gold mine find in Canada in the last 25 years. It’s very exciting.”
Business district of Snow Lake.
Indeed, by all accounts, Lalor is shaping up to be a massive project. Development has been under way since last fall and production is expected to begin in Fall 2012 when the ramp from Chisel North mine is complete. Up to 1,200 tons of ore per day are expected to be extracted via Lalor’s ventilation shaft. The total estimated project cost for Lalor is $704 million, one of the largest private sector projects this province has seen in many years. With production of that scale going on just 15 km outside of Snow Lake, what does this mean for the quaint little town with the pristine lakes and unspoiled habitats? Precourt says the implications are huge. “Our population projections for the next several years have us reaching up to 2,000. That means we have a lot to do to prepare for that kind of influx. We continue to look at expansion and rehabilitation of town facilities, including road replacement and maintenance, water and sewage facilities.” But perhaps the more pressing question is where are the future employees of the Lalor mine going to live? Issue 2 • 2011 • Manitoba’s Northern Experience
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While Precourt and the town work on devising more permanent and sustainable solutions, the Outland Camp on the outskirts of town has been housing and feeding up to 200 mine employees at a time and is currently operating at half capacity. Cauline Armsworthy, the camp’s manager, says they are currently housing 90 men in six dormitory-style quarters. “We’re expecting some peaks probably in the fall. I don’t know exactly the numbers but it’s going to be substantially more than 90. We can handle it. It’s very friendly and personal around here; I’m like a den mother to a huge brood.” Armsworthy herself is a Snow Lake native, but left the town at 18 in pursuit of a job. “At that time, there were no jobs for females in Snow Lake,” she explains. She’s been back in her place of birth now for 17 years. Camps have long been the housing solution for remote work sites, particularly in the mining and forestry industries. It’s been especially ideal for a boom and bust community like Snow Lake. But from the perspective of the town and its people, a camp brimming with transient workers is not ideal. “As far as the town is concerned, it’s definitely preferred for mine employees to be part of the community and have regular housing in town. There’s more stability and definitely advantages to have more people in the community from an economic and recreational standpoint,” says Precourt. “Also, there are sometimes negative perceptions from members of the public as far as rowdiness and depreciating property values for houses by the camps go, whether any of that is true or not. Ideally, we would like to see mine employees live, work and participate in community life so we can take advantage of economies of scale with internet service providers, for example, and ramp up the numbers of our minor hockey league.” * * * It’s mid-August at Outland Camp and Michael Nigh takes a load off after another 12-hour day at the Lalor site. As superintendent for PCL Constructors, he and his 60-man crew have been in and out of this camp from March, on a rotation that has him on-site for 30 days followed by seven days at home. He’s been living this lifestyle for the past five years and says he knows his way around a camp. “The best thing about the [Snow Lake] camp is that it’s new, very clean and considerably smaller than any camp I’ve been at. 28
Norman RDC • 1-800-665-4774
Photos courtesy of Daniel Weinerman, HudBay Minerals Inc.
Images of the new Lalor Mine site.
You get to know the people who work here by name, so that’s nice.” Nigh says his experience at Snow Lake has been different from the other camps where he’s been stationed over the years. “It’s great that it’s in a small community where there’s a golf course and a lake for fishing. We interact a lot with the townspeople of Snow Lake. A lot of the guys get together and tell us about good fishing spots, a lot of us go out golfing on men’s night.” If there’s any wariness on the part of the townsfolk, he and his crew haven’t experienced it. Armsworthy isn’t surprised. “I think people in town were apprehensive at first, but a lot of the men go to the golf club and they meet people here and they’re going to local establishments. They definitely boost the economy of Snow Lake and when people in town get to know them they realize they’re not just the contractors up on the hill, they’re actual people who go to work every day. “For the most part, Snow Lake has welcomed them very positively.” Will Snow Lake’s natural beauty and friendly, small town feel entice miners to settle down here when Lalor is in its production stage come 2012? Precourt sure hopes so. “Because Lalor has a fairly long life span – probably decades – we definitely think there’s potential for a population increase. That’s ideally what the town wants: people to put down roots and become permanent residents while working at the mine.” If there is a boom as big as expected, you can bet that Precourt and the town will be ready. Don’t close the history books on Snow Lake just yet – there’s another chapter yet to be written. u
ringing Post-Secondary Education to You
ringing Post-Secondary Education to You Bringing Post-Secondary Education to You
Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface Brandon UniversityUniversity College of The North Brandon University Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface University of Manitoba Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface University College of The North University of Winnipeg University College of University ofCommunity Manitoba College Manitoba Universities andThe North Assiniboine University of Manitoba University of Winnipeg Red River College Colleges offer distance University of Winnipeg Assiniboine Community College and online courses. Assiniboine Red River College Community College Red River College
ampus Manitoba (CMB) is a consortium of Where is Campus Manitoba? andon University, de of ampus ManitobaCollège (CMB) universitaire is a consortium 9 Campus Manitoba (CMB) of is athe consortium of aint-Boniface, College North, 15 andon University, Collège universitaire de What isUniversity Campus Manitoba? 14 Brandon University, Collège universitaire de 9 niversity of Manitoba, University of aint-Boniface, University of Winnipeg, theofNorth, Campus Manitoba (CMB)College is a partnership 9 13 15 14 Saint-Boniface, University College ofRiver the North, universities and colleges designed to facilitate ssiniboine Community College and Red 5 niversity oftoManitoba, University ofwithin Winnipeg, 14 8 access post-secondary education theWinnipeg, 13 6 University of Manitoba, University of ollege. CMB facilitates access to post-secondary provinceCommunity of Manitoba. College CMB centres staffed 13 ssiniboine and Red River 10 8 3 6 Assiniboine Community College and Red River by CMB coordinators provide academic and 17 ducation within the province of to Manitoba. 11 6 ollege. CMB facilitates access post-secondary 16 6 4 logistical support for students enrolled in College. CMB facilitates access to post-secondary 7 2 310 12 courses offered through Campus Manitoba. 15 1 ducation within the province of Manitoba. 11 3 411 withinbythe province of Manitoba. MB education centres staffed CMB coordinators 7 2 9
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Flin Flon Tel: 204-687-5410 CMBFlinFlon@brandonu.ca 9 Flin Flon Tel: 204-687-5410 9 Flin Flon Tel: 204-687-5410 Enrolling in courses does not mean that CMBFlinFlon@brandonu.ca 2 CMBAltona@brandonu.ca 10 Killarney Bringing Post-S Tel: 204-534-6152 Tel: 204-523-4492 CMBAltona@brandonu.ca CMBFlinFlon@brandonu.ca you have to own a computer. 1CMB Portage la Prairie Dauphin Altona centres 7 13 CMBBoissevain@brandonu.ca CMBKillarney@brandonu.ca Tel: 204-856-1150 Tel: 204-638-4647 Tel: 204-324-6543 Boissevain Killarney can provide access to computersCMBAltona@brandonu.ca and high 2 CMBPortage@brandonu.ca 10 CMBDauphin@brandonu.ca Killarney Tel: 204-534-6152 Tel: 10 204-523-4492 2 Boissevain speed internet. Qualified personnel are Brandon Southport Tel: 204-534-6152 Tel: 204-523-4492 CMBBoissevain@brandonu.ca CMBKillarney@brandonu.ca Steinbach Deloraine Boissevain 3 11 14 2 8 available to solve technical problems. Tel: 204-320-1046 Tel: 1-866-445-0063 Tel: 204-534-6152 Tel: 204-727-9668 Tel: 204-428-5371 CMBBoissevain@brandonu.ca CMBKillarney@brandonu.ca 1 Altona 7 Dauphin 13 Portage la Prairie CMBSteinbach@brandonu.ca CMBDeloraine@brandonu.ca CMBBoissevain@brandonu.ca CMBBrandon@brandonu.ca CMBSouthport@brandonu.ca Tel: 204-856-1150 Tel: 204-638-4647 Tel: 204-324-6543 3 Brandon 11 Southport Brandon Southport Tel: 204-727-9668 Tel: 11 204-428-5371 CMBDauphin@brandonu.ca CMBAltona@brandonu.ca 3 Brandon 9 Eriksdale 15 Swan River CMBPortage@brandonu.ca 3 Tel: 204-734-9739 Tel: 204-739-2141Carman Tel: 204-727-9668 Steinbach Tel: 204-727-9668 Tel: 204-428-5371 CMBBrandon@brandonu.ca CMBSouthport@brandonu.ca 4 12 CMBEriksdale@brandonu.ca CMBBrandon@brandonu.ca CMBSwanRiver@brandonu.ca Tel: 204-745-2910 2 Boissevain 8 Deloraine 14 Steinbach Tel: 204-320-2500 CMBBrandon@brandonu.ca CMBSouthport@brandonu.ca Flon CMBCarman@brandonu.ca CMBSteinbach@brandonu.ca Tel: 204-320-1046 Tel: 1-866-445-0063 Tel: 204-534-6152 4 Carman 10 Flin 16 The Pas Carman Steinbach 4 12 Tel: 204-687-5410 Tel: 204-745-2190 Tel: 204-627-8650 CMBSteinbach@brandonu.ca CMBBoissevain@brandonu.ca CMBDeloraine@brandonu.ca Steinbach Tel: 204-745-2910 Tel: 12 204-320-2500 CMBFlinFlon@brandonu.ca CMBCarman@brandonu.ca CMBThePas@brandonu.ca 4 Carman ● Campus Manitoba provides an Cross Lake Swan River Tel: 204-745-2910 Tel: 204-320-2500 CMBCarman@brandonu.ca CMBSteinbach@brandonu.ca 5 13 3 take 9 Eriksdale 15 Swan River Tel: 204-734-9739 Brandon opportunity to postsecondary 5 Churchill Tel: 204-676-2677 11 Killarney 17 Thompson CMBCarman@brandonu.ca CMBSteinbach@brandonu.ca 204-523-4492 Tel: 1-866-445-0063 Tel: 204-774-7800 Tel:Tel: 204-739-2141 Tel: 204-734-9739 Tel:own 204-727-9668 education in your community. CMBCrossLake@brandonu.ca CMBSwanRiver@brandonu.ca Cross Lake Swan River CMBKillarney@brandonu.ca CMBChurchill@brandonu.ca CMBThompson@brandonu.ca 5 13 CMBEriksdale@brandonu.ca CMBSwanRiver@brandonu.ca CMBBrandon@brandonu.ca Swan River Tel: 204-676-2677 Tel: 13 204-734-9739 5 Cross Lake ● By taking courses with Campus Lake Brandon Universi 6 CrossManitoba, 12 Norway House Dauphin The Pas Tel: 204-676-2677 Tel: 204-734-9739 CMBCrossLake@brandonu.ca CMBSwanRiver@brandonu.ca 6 Tel:Flon 1-866-445-0063 Tel:employment, 1-866-445-0063 4 Carman 10 Flin 16 The Pas 14 you can maintain your current University College of the North Tel: 204-638-4647 Tel: 204-627-8650 CMBNorwayHouse@brandonu.ca CMBCrossLake@brandonu.ca CMBCrossLake@brandonu.ca CMBSwanRiver@brandonu.ca Tel: 204-627-8650 Tel: 204-687-5410 Tel: 204-745-2190 family and community commitments. 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CMBThompson@brandonu.ca CMBDeloraine@brandonu.ca Deloraine Thompson CMBKillarney@brandonu.ca CMBThompson@brandonu.ca CMBChurchill@brandonu.ca 7 15 Thompson ● Centre coordinators provide Tel: 1-866-445-0063 Tel: 15 204-778-7400 7 Deloraine Eriksdale Cross Lake Tel: 1-866-445-0063 Tel: 204-778-7400 12 Norway House CMBThompson@brandonu.ca CMBDeloraine@brandonu.ca academic and6 logistical support. 8 Tel: 204-739-2141 Tel: 1-866-445-0063 Tel: 1-866-445-0063 CMBThompson@brandonu.ca CMBDeloraine@brandonu.ca ● Studying with Campus Manitoba CMBEriksdale@brandonu.ca CMBCrossLake@brandonu.ca CMBNorwayHouse@brandonu.ca 8 Eriksdale can facilitate an easier transition Tel: 204-739-2141 8 Eriksdale to on campus studies. Tel: 204-739-2141 CMBEriksdale@brandonu.ca Brandon University Université CMBEriksdale@brandonu.ca de Saint-Boniface
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Northern Development
ventures North
Northern Canvas
Eight local artists share their vision, their stories, and their work By Judy Penz Sheluk
“It is the realm of the spirit expressed into the realm of the material.” – Linda Sonnenberg Jackson, Northern Manitoba Artist.
N
orthern Manitoba may be known for its extreme temperatures, but it is also known for its breathtaking beauty; a natural canvas that inspires creativity in its purest form. We asked eight local artists to share their vision, their stories, and their work.
Elaine Angelski: porcelain, stoneware and functional pottery ejangelski@hotmail.com
“Living close to nature in the heart of the Canadian Shield, I am influenced by seasonal change, the elements and gems of the earth, and the colours created with the blending of land, lakes and skies. Throughout the year, I will use various techniques from painting with underglazes, carving flowing lines and the technical exploration of glazes in the kiln. The versatility of clay allows exploration at many levels narrating my passions and beliefs.” Elaine uses a combination of glazes to challenge the electric kiln and mimic the nature of a gas kiln – dipping, overlapping, trailing and brushing to produce movement and reflection. A favourite technique is wedging or sprinkling Garnet sand from Northern Manitoba beaches into the clay body. 30
Norman RDC • 1-800-665-4774
Norine Carriere: acrylic on canvas ncarrier@mymts.net
“Working as an RBC emerging artist, I was challenged to create a body of work that transformed concepts in my head into actual paintings on canvas. For an artist this can be a painful process, but it can also be soothing. I learned to step out of my own way and allow the flow to happen … to spill my gut onto that canvas for the whole world to see.” Drawing inspiration from the dynamic scenery of the Canadian Shield and the boreal forest of the North, Norine’s paintings are bold and dramatic, focusing on the relationship between the land and the spirit – a place where the spirit soars to the heavens, a place where the soul heals, a place of safety – if only for a single moment.
Karen Clark: batik and oils clark.karenastrid@gmail.com
“Living in Northern Manitoba has allowed me to connect with many talented artists, and the shared learning informs every piece of my work. Currently, I am channelling my creative energies on the mesmerizing process of creating in batik. Each step in a piece holds both risk and discovery.” Karen’s work reveals skilled use of this ancient media. The clean line of hot wax contrasts with the seemingly random rough edge of crackle and splatter. Her colours are brilliantly clear and sharp, the compositions spare in an economy of line and colour. This same simplicity characterizes her oil paintings. An advocate for the future of the arts in the northern Canada, Karen is currently working with the Northern Visual Arts Centre (NorVA) in Flin Flon as the Programming Director.
More art and artists Discover more of Northern Manitoba’s emerging and established artists: The Flin Flon Arts Council, Flin Flon. 204-687-5413, www.flinflonartscouncil.com. The Northern Visual Arts Centre (NorVA Centre), Flin Flon. 204-687-4237 or Sarah Trevor, Chairperson, 306-362-2530, saranjou@hotmail.com. Sam Waller Museum, The Pas. 204-623-3802, www.samwallermuseum.ca (shown above). Uniquely Manitoba, www.uniquelymanitoba.ca. Northernnativeart.ca, www.thompson.ca/dbs/northernnativeart.
ventures North charity functions and fundraising events, has taught several painting workshops in The Pas and for Inland Oceans Arts Alliance, and has worked with several local artists in her studio. Her works are found in private and business collections in Canada, the U.S., Scotland and Germany.
Linda Sonnenberg Jackson: metallic fibre artworks riklin@xplornet.ca
“My passion for sculpture led me to use wire mesh and plaster fabric to create forms and shapes. Along the way I discovered the magic of creating various and original effects by the application or burnishing of metallic paints over a base colour.” A multi-award winning artist at regional fairs, festivals, and Northern Juried Art Shows, in 2007, Linda placed third for People’s Choice in all of Manitoba. Her works have found their way to Australia, South Africa, the U.S., and many European countries. One of the original members of NorVA, Linda’s sculptures range in size from one foot to over five feet tall; prices range from $175 to $2,000. Fancy bowls, vases and candleholders, range from $12 to $75.
The daughter of a Canadian mother and an English father, Sarah grew up in Africa, but has lived more than half her life in the Flin Flon area. She uses her life in the boreal forest and the years leading up to it in Africa, as the source for her painting and batik: Regeneration in the boreal forest is the subject of her latest batik series. In her acrylic on board, The Ugly Magpie, Sarah addresses what it feels to be different in the North, whether as an immigrant or an artist. In 1992, Sarah opened her studio gallery in Flin Flon, where she displayed the work of local artists. In 2010, she joined in opening of NorVA.
Lois Pedersen: watercolour on Yupo; acrylics mixed with modelling paste loped@mymts.net
“A few years ago I thought of quitting because I had a room full of paintings. Instead, I gave away about 50 paintings and continued on. I love to experiment, and my current passion is Yupo paper [a 100 per cent recyclable, waterproof, tree-free synthetic paper extruded from polypropylene pellets]. Because the paper has a plastic coating, the paint doesn’t absorb into the paper, which allows me to play around with the imagery before the paper dries.” In November 2010, Lois accepted an opportunity to rent a spot at NorVA, and she hasn’t looked back. Recent works include watercolours on Yupo, as well as acrylics and acrylic gels mixed with modelling paste.
Linda Munro: watercolour and other media lmmunro@xplornet.com
“Nature has beauty and colour in every spot one looks. There is an awareness of the finite resources that lie underneath. If one treasures the beauty, one will be more apt to care for the resources beneath.” A resident of Rocky Lake, Linda is a regular participant in the Northern Juried Art Show, the Sam Waller Museum Local Art Show, and has had a solo exhibition at the library in McCreary, Man. She is known for contributing her art to local
Northern Development
Sarah Trevor: batik, acrylics saranjou@hotmail.com
“Micro and macro – what begins as location specific expands to global implications.”
Theresa Wride: caribou hair art caribouhairart@gmail.com
“My parents inspired me with their passion and respect for their traditions. In 1989, I started tufting flower designs with caribou hair, and soon found a niche in creating wildlife scenes. Each picture is unique and is infused with my love of the north – a bridge between the Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal world.” In a world bereft of its connection with the earth, Theresa’s work resonates with the heartbeat of all that life is. The eloquent simplicity of her caribou hair art belies the complexity of her skill as an artist. Originally form Norway House Cree Nation of Manitoba, Theresa now resides in Flin Flon, and is regarded as one of the most talented artists using this medium. Her work can be found in private collections worldwide. u
Issue 2 • 2011 • Manitoba’s Northern Experience
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Northern Experience the
National & Provincial Parks Clearwater Lake Provincial Park
Berge Lake Provincial Park
Grass River Provincial Park
Wekusko Falls
Zed Lake Provincial Park
Pisew Falls & Kwasitchewan Falls
Located just 20 km north of The Pas on Highway 10, this park has something for everyone. The park offers fishing, swimming, boating, hiking, overnight lodging, and camping with basic and electrically serviced sites at Campers Cove or walk-in tent sites at Pioneer Bay.
Just 80 km north of The Pas on Highway 10, take the first right and follow Highway 39 into Grass River Park. This wilderness of lakes and evergreen forest is home to woodland caribou, moose, wolves, bear and a variety of waterfowl. Also ideal for canoeing and fishing for northern pike, walleye, lake trout and perch.
Just 20 km northwest of Lynn Lake on Highway 394, this park has 35 unserviced sites, beach, boat launch and barbecue pits. This is an ideal location for both hunting and fishing, and for scouting the surrounding clear lakes and vast wilderness.
Paint Lake Provincial Recreation Park
This park, which extends over 56,000 acres of Precambrian Boreal Forest, is located 32 km south of Thompson on Highway 6. Great fishing, boating, water sports, excellent camping and cabin rentals await you. Many winter activities are also available throughout the park. Some of these include snowmobile trails, cross-country ski trails and a sliding area for children.
Located 5 km northwest of Lynn Lake on Highway 394, this park has 25 unserviced sites, a beach, boat launch, a fish cleaning building and barbecue pits. Hiking in winter or summer on eskers left by glaciers is just minutes away.
Located 15 km south of Snow Lake, this park offers modern bathrooms, water standpipes and a sewage dump for campers with 112 sites available. Also hiking trails featuring suspension bridges and a boat launch, a beach and a fish-cleaning house.
Visit Manitoba’s highest road-accessible waterfalls. A boardwalk and a suspension bridge will keep you busy as you look and listen for the hissing sound of the falls. A 22 km overnight hiking trail will take you to Kwasitchewan.
Wapusk National Park
Located 45 km southeast of the town of Churchill, Wapusk (the Cree word for “white bear”) is one of Canada’s newest national parks. It is a fitting name as the park protects one of the world’s largest known polar bear maternity denning areas.
Bakers Narrows Provincial Park
Located 19 km south of Flin Flon on Highway 10, this small park is ideal for camping, boating, fishing and other recreational activities. This campground has 40 electrical and 28 nonelectrical sites with barbecue pits and modern washrooms also a convenience store, playgrounds and boat launches.
www.visitnorthernmanitoba.ca
The Northern Experience in Manitoba
Map courtesy of Snoman Inc.
For trail conditions visit www.snoman.mb.ca
ventures North
Diversifying Thompson’s Economy Working group moves forward to weather economic challenges in wake of planned reductions at Vale mine By Gloria Taylor
J
ust last fall, mining giant Vale announced that 500 jobs could (MKO), a non-profit political advocacy organization representing be affected at the Thompson mine as it transitions from a full30 First Nations, and the Keewatin Tribal Council, among others. service mine to a mining and milling company by 2015 in the Thompson Mayor Tim Johnston said while the Province of northern Manitoba city. Manitoba and the United Steelworkers of America union were Insufficient mineral reserves to continue to operate the invited to join the working group from the outset, they were not smelter and refinery at full capacity was cited as the reason for the participating in the group in early September, but they may choose long-term change. to do so in the future. At the same time, the company promised “What these groups have said is that they’re that no one would be laid off and employees very interested in what the group finds and any who face the spectre of job loss could be rereports that are brought forward, and they will trained and offered jobs in the mining company review them,” said Johnston. Nevertheless, all at other locations across Canada in the years to stakeholders including the Province and the come. Union did work together to deal with the effects Community leaders and key stakeholdof Vale’s decision following the announcement ers however wasted no time in reacting to the that the mine will transition by 2015, he said. news, and by May of this year an economic di“One of the positive things is that all the versification working group had been struck in stakeholders are committed to each other in enan attempt to diversify Thompson’s economy suring that we’re working in the best interest of in order to better position the city and surthe overall community,” said Mayor Johnston. rounding region to weather major economic The group has met several times since inchanges. Thompson Mayor Tim Johnston. ception and Vale, which is expected to play a While the northern city has long identified major role in the diversification efforts, has prothe need to diversify its economy in light of flucvided resources to hire rePlan, a consulting group tuating commodity markets and global economic forces, the goal based in Toronto to co-ordinate the process, said the mayor. became a “strategic imperative” following Vale’s announcement, “rePlan has really been coordinating the process, and met say stakeholders. Thus, the Thompson Economic Diversification with each of the stakeholders to get their input on the challenges Working Group was formed. and will come back together in September to talk about some of The group is chaired by the City of Thompson and includes the key priority areas, strategies, and go to work in terms of opporVale, the business community and aboriginal communities. tunities for partnerships, opportunities to move forward in terms Member groups include the Thompson Chamber of Commerce; of trying to develop economic opportunities, including employThompson Unlimited, the city’s economic development agency; ment,” said Johnston. the Manitoba Metis Federation; The Northern Association of The mayor said the announcement initially came as a shock Community Councils; Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak to the community when it included the smelter and refinery, 34
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Photos courtesy of Vale
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“Bottom line is there is still a mining future in Thompson for a very long time.” – Ryan Land, manager corporate affairs for Vale
“however the Thompson community has been very strong for the last number of years, and we have seen a lot of capital investment and work going on.” Concerns translated into some flattening of prices in the real estate industry and some people chose to leave the community because of uncertainty, said the mayor, but he added that people are starting to come around to the understanding that Thompson and the community will continue and be strong. “Our hope and our goal – and we’ve been told this by Vale – is that Vale will continue to have a strong presence,” he added. In the meantime, he wants stakeholders to implement some strategies to retain as many jobs as possible in the mining industry and to create other opportunities. “I believe that the mine operation here will continue to be a very strong pillar of the community. It will likely be the main pillar supported by the role of a service centre,” said Johnston. The mayor is also buoyed by the construction activity in Thompson.
PLANNING | DESIGN | ARCHITECTURE
“If you were in Thompson now, you would see that there’s construction in virtually all sectors, including two hotels that were recently developed. We’re seeing the construction of the University College of the North which is a million dollar investment in the community. Anywhere you drive, you’re seeing construction and investment so that’s good for the long term sustainability of Thompson.”
Vale committed
Ryan Land, manager corporate affairs for Vale, said the working group represents “a chance for us to talk about some ideas and set some priorities for Thompson.” He said the group, including Vale, wants to position Thompson as a regional centre but with a mining backbone and he put to rest any concerns that Vale may leave Thompson. “Bottom line is there is still a mining future in Thompson for a very long time.”
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President Murray Nychyporuk Vice President Dan Dnistransky Recording Secretary Warren Luky Financial Secretary Scott Clements Treasurer Wayne Levac
www.replan.ca info@replan.ca
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Trustees Paul Bentley, Gord Medwid, Sheila Thompson Guide Baltazar Flores Guards Craig Costello, Ian Harman cl/Cope 342342 cl/COPE
Issue 2 • 2011 • Manitoba’s Northern Experience
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Land said the group is to come up with some action plans that it can take to governments and the business sector for participation. “Vale might be a part of that if it is in keeping with our vision. We’re also looking at timely opportunities based on the directions that municipal governments are setting,” he added. He said changes at the mine are not a doom and gloom scenario but represent the reality that mines have a definite life cycle. “There is mining and milling here for at least another generation.” In the end, he said that Vale wants to help create a sustainable future for Thompson. “We want them to come through 2015 with an even better Thompson.”
Cold weather testing centre
Mark Matiasek, general manager Thompson Unlimited, Thompson’s economic development organization and a member of the economic diversification working group, said the group is working on a number of ideas to expand the economy. “First and foremost is to build up the cold weather testing in Thompson.” Thompson has long been a cold-weather testing centre for some major vehicle manufacturers that want to determine how their vehicles perform under deep-freeze conditions, and more recently, the city managed to attract jet engine manufacturers to test their engines in the extreme cold. What Matiasek and others would like to do is expand the industry by attracting companies to test their newest vehicle technologies in Thompson. This would include all-electric vehicles
GROWING THOMPSON ...is our job! We’re Thompson UnlimiTed, the economic development corporation. our team is helping Thompson grow and diversify through winter weather testing, tourism, as a Regional Centre, and more. Call us to discuss your business idea. We can help connect you with all the right parties... BiG or small. And always in complete confidence.
and their related equipment such as the powerful batteries that are needed to operate the all-electric models. This could also generate related work in the city as companies and governments work together to determine what the effects of all-electric vehicles could be on the Manitoba Hydro power grid, he said. To date, members have developed a concept paper and are in the process of talking with private companies to generate interest in and support for some of the ideas, he said. Step two would be to approach different levels of government for some funding and perhaps apply through the working group for any funds that could be made available by Vale for studies that could lead to economic diversification through industry expansion. “There’s a protocol that’s been outlined by the consultants, rePlan, to access some funding for action plans.” The plan would require new infrastructure to be built to accommodate the new testing. “This is not something you create overnight, but we want to be a player in altering our infrastructure here to be forwardlooking on this learning curve. We want to position ourselves on it so as electric vehicle technologies advance, we want to be front and centre as a location for testing these new vehicles.” He points out that the plan is predicated on making money for Thompson. “That’s how we see our sustainability here, not subsidies.” Matiasek said Vale has committed to providing a “generous” amount of money to the diversification process, although he was unable to be specific about the amount. u
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Northern Development
Wilderness Home Away from Home
Logar Ventures/Neultin Fly-in Lodges creates ‘moon-base’ work camp for drilling company By Gloria Taylor
Photos courtesy of Logar Ventures/Nueltin Fly-in Lodges
A
visitor viewing Logar Ventures/Nueltin Fly-In Lodges’ new work camp for a junior mining company could be forgiven for thinking they are viewing the home base for some industrious Inuit who make their home in the Arctic. A series of intriguing domes dots the landscape resembling traditional igloos carved from the land. In fact, these are highly-functional man-made fiberglass compound shelters developed by an Alaska company that had the good sense to borrow the tried and true Inuit design that has housed ancestors in the high Arctic since time immemorial. Shawn Gurke, manager of Logar Ventues/Nueltin Fly-in Lodges who set up the work camp some 500 miles north of Lac Brochet in northern Manitoba, is high on the many benefits of what he calls the ‘eco-domes’ to create shelter for folks under extraordinarily demanding conditions. And with their strong and resilient, even ‘space-agey’ properties, it is only understandable that Gurke would view his company’s latest work camp with a modicum of humour – referring to the 10 large overturned domes as a “moon base”. (No, there are no aliens)! Moon base represents a relatively new direction for Gurke’s family company begun by his parents nearly 25 years ago. With a pioneering spirit perhaps born of their Metis heritage, the family created lodges and a world-class fishing resort on the border of
Above: A compact kitchen has all the amenities needed to serve groups of people. Top photo: Spacious two-level eco-domes made of a resilient aerospace material create the shelter for work crews who enjoy many of the comforts of home-away-from-home. Issue 2 • 2011 • Manitoba’s Northern Experience
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Manitoba and Nunavut, after owning and operating several prior tourism operations. The Gurke family cleared the land and began to offer a comprehensive range of services to tourists who wanted a prime corporate retreat or an outstanding opportunity to catch the most prized of fish in pristine wildness lakes that could only be reached by planes on their own private airstrip near Nueltin Flyin Lodges. As an natural extension of the many skills and services the family developed for its tourism and corporate retreat clients, the company has now set up not only moon base, but another corporate company base in Lynn Lake that corporations can rent to house workers involved in anything from building telecommunications networks to new roads. Clients have spanned big name multinationals like de Beers to Manitoba-based companies such as Manitoba Hydro, and Gurke feels the domed camps would create perfect work bases for firms working in northern Manitoba. And while Gurke’s lodges can offer many of the amenities companies need when working on the land, the work camps like moon base provide the solution for temporary work camps that can be easily assembled or moved as the need dictates. And the eco-domes, which are lightweight, functional and easily moved, fill the bill nicely, Gurke is convinced. Moon base is in fact the temporary northern home for Prosperity Gold Fields, a junior mining company located in Vancouver, B.C. Originally set up to accommodate 20 people at capacity, the camp today is being expanded to become a home away from home for up to 40 mining personnel involved in extensive drilling operations for the company.
“Strength to Build the Future” HudBay Minerals Inc. (TSX: HBM) (NYSE: HBM) is a Canadian integrated mining company with assets in North and Central America principally focused on the discovery, production and marketing of base metals.
HudBay Minerals Inc. 25 York Street, Suite 800 Toronto, ON M5J 2V5
Phone: 416-362-8181 Fax: 416-362-7844 Email: investor.relations@hbms.ca Website: www.hudbayminerals.com
This is the first time in northern Manitoba to the best of his knowledge that the man-made fibreglass domes have been used to construct a corporate work camp, says Gurke. And the results to date – the camp has been operational since this summer – are very encouraging, adds Gurke, who is enthusiastic about the prospects for the fibreglass domes made by InterShelter, an Anchorage, Alaska manufacturer. Made of a high-tech aerospace composite, the eco-dome shelters can be insulated, heated, and fitted with bathrooms and kitchens. Tough and resistant, the domes can withstand the rigours of the northern climate and animals intent on breaching the structures. Another benefit of the corporate camps is the outstanding services that Logar Ventures/Neultin Fly-in Lodges can provide. At the work camps, as at the fly-in lodges on the ManitobaNunavut border, the company offers a broad range of services, which it will customize for companies. “They only have to show up,” says Gurke. “We can build it, plumb it, help with permitting, whatever is needed,” he says. “Our camps are not minor small tent setups,” he notes. “Moon base has sleeping facilities, a commercial kitchen, bathrooms, Internet and is a place where exploration companies can base themselves out of for 12 months a year,” he adds. “If we weren’t there, there would be no cost-effective place for them to work out of,” declares Gurke, adding that the years of operating tourism businesses has given the company invaluable knowledge that has proved useful for its work camps.
Logistical nightmare
Facing prohibitive costs for flying up wood and other traditional building materials to the sub Arctic, it was a logical choice to use the more cost-effective eco-domes to set up moon base, points out Gurke. But first, it had to bring up construction equipment to clear the land and build an airstrip at the site of the soon-to-be-camp. In the deep-freeze conditions of February, Gurke and five men trucked a tractor, a huge snow blower and other equipment from Winnipeg up to Lac Brochet, where the Manitoba roadway ends. From there, snow machines hauled camp equipment and fuel north while the crew painstakingly cleared their own road as they moved north of Lac Brochet to the site of the future camp, a process Gurke describes as a “logistical nightmare”.
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ventures North “Getting the 22,000-pound tractor to the location was key because when we got onsite, we built a mile-long ice air strip, and then the big planes started coming in,” explains Gurke. “And, they’re the ones that brought the domes and construction materials that we needed, along with bulk fuel to support the drilling company,” he adds. The domes saved a lot on construction costs but were also a good choice for other reasons, says Gurke. “Their chief benefit was their mobility,” he says. “If we were to come up with 5,000 square feet of living space (the size of one of the domes which has a main floor and a loft) using conventional construction methods, I don’t even want to think about how much money it would have cost,” he says. “If we would build that with conventional methods, it would have been approaching 70 airplane loads of materials.” The structures are also reusable afterward. “You can actually tear them down and set them up in another place, and you can sling them underneath a helicopter to move them,” he added. “They are of tremendous use say for a drill company that wants to keep its crew next to the drill in a bad climate. They can also be heated. We can heat them with oil burning stoves. At the moon base there, we have electricity, because we have an air-cooled diesel generator. But there are solar and wind options for heating and cooling. Anything you can do in a house, you can do in the dome.” The manufacturer is also marketing the shelters for use in disaster relief and military buildings among other uses, he noted.
Northern Development
Fully operational laundry facility.
Aside from the physical amenities at the camps, Gurke said his company can also provide an indispensable service at the work camps: staffing. “For us, that’s a large part of our corporate identity. We offer training from local workforces. It’s difficult for a company to move in, even a large mining company with the best of intentions, that doesn’t know how to navigate the local economy and staff itself. We are a company with 25-years-plus experience in this geographical and political region.” In Lynn Lake, Logar Ventures/Nueltin Fly-in Lodges has set up a base camp near the community air base. “In the north, airplanes are infrastructure, and every air mile you can save is important,” says Gurke. In Lynn Lake, the company developed a 6,000-square-foot facility that includes lodging, work space and offices to handle drill crews and other work camp personnel. u
Moon Base
by Logar Ventures/Nueltin Fly-In Lodges
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Logar Ventures/Nueltin Fly-in Lodges P.O. Box 500, Alonsa, MB R0H 0A0 Issue 2 • 2011 • Manitoba’s Northern Experience
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Manitoba Comes Alive in the Winter By Gloria Taylor
C
ast your line beneath the frozen ice to pull out a big fish; enjoy a winter festival complete with dog sled races and numerous activities, or get energetic and go skidooing or skiing in the great northern expanses of the province. Manitoba comes alive when the days grow short and the temperatures drop. So pull on your woolies and enjoy the season.
Churchill
An active winter starts early in Churchill at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre. The independent, non-profit research and education facility located 23 kilometres east of the Town of Churchill, is home to a number of programs all year round, but one of its most popular programs – Lords of the Arctic: The Ecology of Hudson Bay’s Polar Bears – takes place this year from Oct. 25 to Nov. 1 and Nov. 8 to 15. “The program is always popular, and we limit the number of participants to 34 to make sure everyone enjoys the program and the learning opportunities,” says Executive Director Michael Goodyear. Participants will get to view the magnificent white bears from the vantage point of a custom-made tundra vehicle; assist visiting researchers to collect data on the polar bears and enjoy evening presentations by bear biologists. The fun, experiential learning vacation also includes a 45-minute helicopter tour along the Hudson Bay coast, an afternoon of dog sledding and a tour of the town site, including the famed Eskimo Museum. Other times of the year, the Churchill Northern Studies Centre hosts programs on birding, arctic wildlife, winter survival, beluga whales, wildflowers (botany), northern lights and astronomy. Many of the programs are open to everyone, but there are learning vacations at the centre that are organized by Elderhostel, or Road Scholar, a not-for-profit organization that offers learning vacations to people specifically over the age of 55. Both the CNSC and Road Scholar offer polar bear programs in the fall among other program offerings. Call the Churchill Northern Studies Centre at 40
Norman RDC • 1-800-665-4774
Tiar Whitehead, Fur Queen of the 2011 Northern Manitoba Trappers Festival.
204-675-2307 for more information on the centre’s program and Road Scholar at 1-800-454-5768 for information on their programs. Stacie Fasola, director, public and media relations for Road Scholar, said, “The programs offer a unique experience because of an educational component. They are not for people who want to travel and lie on the beach.” Another thing that makes the programs (7,000 programs in 150 countries) unique is that there are no hidden costs. Accommodations, transportation, lectures, activities, even tips are included in the (Road Scholar) programs’ costs, says Fasola. “One thing we say is that you can leave your wallet at home.” Meantime, travellers who book their stay for the CNSC’s Lords of the Arctic program will find their packages also include accommodations, meals, local transportation, wildlife viewing excursions and evening lectures, among other services. Participants who stay at the CNSC for any program will enjoy a brand new building and share bunk bed-style rooms with a maximum of four people per room.
The Pas
If you like to plan your own itinerary, consider attending the famed Northern Manitoba Trappers Festival in The Pas Feb. 15 to Feb. 19. While the festival yearly draws tens of thousands of visitors, this
year is even more special because it represents a kick-off to the The Pas’ Centennial Year, says Sonny Lavallee, chairman of this year’s festival. “This is also the 65th Northern Manitoba Trappers Festival,” says Lavallee, adding that festival organizers are attempting to line up Canada AM Weather Anchor and television personality Jeff Hutcheson as a special guest for next February’s festival. Visitors will be able to see an intriguing lineup of historic activities thanks to participants and outstanding work by volunteer organizers who number from 300 to 400. Watch the dog races, arm wrestling, baking contest, beard growing contest, tea boiling, flour packing, cordwood bonspiel, marathon snowshoe race, stage show and mini festivals. Try the native foods buffet and take a look at how our ancestors made bannock on the land, among many other events. Meet the new Fur Queen and Princess and Queen Trapper and King Trapper. Lavallee said the World Championship Dog Race may offer a larger purse this year for the top finisher, because the committee is thinking of increasing the prize money for the first-place finisher. He said the world-class dog race draws from 15 to 25 dog teams annually from across Canada and outside the country and is a favourite at the festival but is not the only dog race. There is also the Jack McPhail 6 Dog race, the Joe LeClerc 4 Dog race, the Junior Race, the Mutt Race and the Pro Mutt Race. There are numerous hotels and lodges in The Pas and surrounding area where people can stay, but Lavallee cautions that visitors should book their rooms well in advance to ensure a spot. Two or three months prior to the festival is not too early considering that last year’s festival drew more than 30,000 people, he said.
Grand Rapids
The Grand Rapids Winter Festival is another festival offering in the winter, which takes place at the start of the year during the third weekend of January in 2012.
Background photo: The Northbrook Inn and Hilltop Cabins in Grand Rapids has cabins for rent all year round. Ice fishers and outdoor enthusiasts are welcome.
Lots of activities to fill your days in the northern playground
ventures North Grand Rapids is located about 250 kilometres southeast of the Town of The Pas and about 400 kilometres north of Winnipeg at the mouth of the Saskatchewan River where it runs into Lake Winnipeg. The highlight of this festival is the Stephen Pranteau Memorial Dog Race. “This race is one of the first events leading up to the big dog race in The Pas,” says Grand Rapids Mayor John Morrisseau. “We’ve had mushers from Alaska, B.C. and Yellowknife and throughout Canada and the United States. We get a fairly good turnout. Two years ago, we had a team in from Australia and a team from Germany.” Pancake breakfasts and a community dance are often held in conjunction with the festival as well, says Morrisseau, who notes that planning was still underway in September.
Grand Rapids, including walleye, pickerel and white fish, and visitors have the option of staying either in rooms or cabins. Further north, in The Pas, the story is the same: “There’s a huge amount of ice fishing that goes on in The Pas,” says Peter McLauchlan, owner of Pete’s Pro Tackle in The Pas. Walleye, northern pike, lake trout and rainbow trout are just some of the species that can be pulled from the waters in the area, he says. People can come with their equipment, including portable ice shacks, or
Northern Development stop by the shop to get outfitted with all the tackle they can use, he says. They could also luck out with some useful information. “We might even be able to give them an idea where the fish are biting,” says McLauchlan. These are just some of the many opportunities for an interesting and active winter in Northern Manitoba. Northern Experience will provide information on more opportunities in northern Manitoba in future issues. u
200 PTH#10 Flin Flon, MB Monday – Saturday 8 a.m.–10p.m. Sunday Noon – 6 p.m.
Ice fishing
Options for Education
Northern Manitoba has long been a mecca for great fishing, but you don’t have to confine your fishing trips to the summer. They are still biting under the ice all winter long, and if the idea of ice fishing We are now accepting applications for the 2012 academic year! appeals to you, welcome to the club. We recognize our students are often employed full-time or reside in Northern and remote Grab the fishing gear and auger and communities. Our special delivery methods will allow you to remain employed and live in your head out to a northern lake or take advanhome community for the duration of the program and earn your credentials. We will be offering the following programs through a blended delivery format (e.g. on-campus sessions, tele/video tage of some of the ice fishing packages conferences, distance education) in September 2012. that some facilities have developed. • Aboriginal Financial and • Pre-Health Sciences The Northbrook Inn in Grand Economic Planning • Social Service Worker – Rapids is one such place. • Native Early Childhood Native Specialization The Inn offers a Winter Ice Fishing Education Special that includes accommodations, an • Personal Support Worker ice shack, a guide and accommodations to All of these programs are delivered in partnership with an Ontario college. This means that you will and from the shack. Participants can fish receive a level of education that is equivalent to, and even exceeds that found in mainstream schools and you will graduate with a college diploma or certificate! Our staff and instructors have a passion in Cross Bay, the Saskatchewan River or for teaching and supporting First Nations students. Footprint Lake – all with the help of a For more information contact: knowledgeable guide who can help even Lorrie Deschamps, Community Liaison & Student Recruitment Officer the most novice fisher enjoy his or her 3 – 106 Centennial Square, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7E 1H3 | Ph: 807-626-1880 | E: info@oshki.ca outing. Publication: Manitoba’s Northern Experience Issue 1 –2010 | Advertiser: Walmart | Proof #: 1 | Initialed: JL Northbrook Inn Manager Ramona Eastman says some of the most prized fish www.oshki.ca OUR IDENTITY | OUR WELL-BEING | OUR COMMUNITIES | OUR FUTURE can be snagged in the waters surrounding
A New Beginning
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Adventure North The Pas & Area
Welcome to Cormorant
CORMORANT
Town Office: 204-357-2145
Beautiful Views Abound
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ormorant Lake, with its surrounding rivers, islands and streams, provides some of the most breathtaking views for anyone wishing to visit our area. If it’s fishing on a warm summer evening, swimming on a secluded beach, camping or hiking you’re searching for, a vacation visit to Cormorant Lake will be a memorable one. The winter months cannot be forgotten as a possible time to enjoy Cormorant. After a day of ice fishing for walleye or northern pike, highlight your evening with a moonlit drive on a snowmobile, offering the chance to explore areas that you cannot access during the summer … and don’t forget the northern lights. It’s all here in Cormorant. u
Home of University College of the North, The Pas Wellness Centre & the OCN Blizzard, just to name a few.
Currently in the process of subdividing property at the Municipal Airport to include 32 full-size lakefront lots on beautiful Clearwater Lake, the clearest lake in North America.
Call 204-627-1100 • 42
Norman RDC • 1-800-665-4774
Population: 300 Location: West Central Manitoba, 77 kilometres northeast of The Pas on PTH 287. Located along the shores of Cormorant Lake. Founded: Early 1900s Major Sites: Beautiful Cormorant Lake, with its clear water and gorgeous shoreline.
12,000 people and all the ammenities you look for in a place to call home.
Visit www.townofthepas.ca
Adventure North The Pas & Area
OCN – Opaskwayak Cree Nation Building on success
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Welcome to Opaskwayak Cree Nation Population: Primary Trading Area – 16,105; Secondary Trading Area – 19,840
lessed with a rich heritage and strong culture, and led by a strong business development organization, the Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) has become an economic leader among Manitoba First Nations. The Paskwayak Business Development Corporation (PBDC) was founded in 1987 to promote economic development for the membership of its First Nation. The organization is run as a commercial holding company and is fully owned by members of OCN. PBDC activities include planning and implementing business initiatives and overseeing growth of businesses, including several retail and service outlets. The organization’s leadership and vision has allowed many businesses to thrive in the area, creating a social and economic environment that is well equipped to serve new business interests. The area’s retail centre is the Otineka Mall. While originally envisioned by the Otineka Development Corporation as a community grocery store, today the complex covers 13 acres and houses stores and offices throughout its three levels. The PBDC’s newest ventures include Sports Traders, Your Dollar Store with More and the Big “E” Mart. The IGA grocery store offers the only scratch bakery in town (specializing in wedding and all other occasion cakes), a fresh meat counter and wide deli and produce selections. In addition, personalized calendars and photo greeting cards can be made here. In a corner of the mall parking lot lies another PBDC success story. The OCN Shell Gas Bar opened in November 1998. When the organization took control of the struggling business, they were told it would sell no more than four million litres of gas annually. The PBDC added pumps, space and staff, and it paid off. Today, the location sells more than eight million litres each year, and the confectionery sells more than $100,000 worth of goods annually. Sports Traders is one of the newest ventures located inside the mall and specializes in team orders and new or used sporting equipment. The store also takes trades and has a full-service repair depot and offers skate sharpening in the winter. The Big “E” Mart is located in Big Eddy and services the people in that area with groceries and snacks. Your Dollar Store with More has many items for all age groups at a very affordable price. The Pas Food Town, which has the new name Paskwayak Convenience Store, is another convenient location. The store, located on Hogan Avenue, opened in December 1997 and is another successful PBDC business. The facility offers groceries, tobacco, produce and fresh meat and has a lottery ticket outlet. It is open seven days a week and during all holidays for the convenience of its customers. For those who have business clients travelling to OCN, there is a comfortable place to stay. The 3 1/2 star Kikiwak Inn opened in 1996 and features 60 guestrooms, a pool, hot tub, exercise facilities and a full-service restaurant and lounge. The hotel also has meeting facilities, so important business decisions can be made without even leaving the building. In addition to OCN’s economic base of retail, office space and accommodations, PBDC business Northland Redi-Mix Concrete & Gravel Operations can supply material to be used for new business construction. If you’re interested in exploring the economic opportunities that lie in OCN, call Paskwayak Business Development Corporation at 204-627-7200. For more information, visit www.thepasarea.com u
Location: West-central Manitoba, across the Saskatchewan River from The Pas Website: www.thepasarea.com Slogan: “Progress and Independence” Founded: 1906 Mission statement: To have true Aboriginal Self-Government as determined by the people, which incorporates our cultural values and traditions and is based on our own unique history. Major sites: Kikiwak Inn, Otineka Mall, Aseneskak Casino Major developments: Kikiwak Inn, which officially opened in 1996, is an $8-million hotel with a pool, hot tub, dining room and lounge and 60 rooms.
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Adventure North The Pas & Area
THE PAS
Welcome to The Pas
GATEWAY TO THE NORTH
Population: 5,589 (2006 census)
nown as “The Gateway to the North,” The Pas is a multi-industry northern town. The Pas community is one of the oldest and most striking settlements in northern Manitoba. Boasting one of the three true blue lakes in existence, outdoor adventure abounds set to the raw natural beauty that attracts visitors from around the world. Throughout the year, The Pas offers unique recreational activities and a variety of cultural attractions such as the Northern Manitoba Trappers’ Festival, Agricultural Fair, and Opasquia Indian days. The Pas and the surrounding area are not only internationally renowned for trophy lake trout, northern pike and walleye but also rich in and well known for game animals and waterfowl such as moose, black bear, deer, woodland caribou, elk, Canada goose, snow goose, duck, etc. The vast farmlands in the region provide excellent waterfowl habitat. The Pas is also one of the largest breeding and staying areas of migratory waterfowl in the world. The abundance of lakes, rivers, creeks and swamps in the surrounding area and the four distinct seasons provides The Pas with a year-round recreational paradise. There are plenty of recreational water activities, including boating, canoeing, sailing and swimming. In the winter season wilderness watersheds, hiking trails and scenic vistas become an ideal setting for cross country skiing, snowmobiling and ice fishing. The Pas boasts over 60 sports and recreational clubs as well as excellent recreational facilities. The Town maintains many spacious parks, playgrounds and tot lot areas for residents and visitors of all ages. Softball fields, soccer pitches, tennis courts, track and field facilities, skating parks and even a 1/4 mile stock car oval are all available in The Pas. The Pas serves as the retail and service center in northwestern Manitoba. It features more than 200 retail outlets and two shopping malls as well as a number of well-known chain restaurants, stores and hotels which are able to satisfy various business needs and consumer interests and also provide local residents and visitors a wide selection of products and services. For more information visit our website: www.thepasarea.com. u
Box 2519; R9A 1M3 The Pas, MB Email: Wescana@mts.net
Tel.: 204-623-5446 1-800-665-9468 Fax: 204-623-3383 www.wescanainn.com
Location: 630 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, near the border of Saskatchewan Slogan: “The Gateway to the North” Little Known Facts: The Pas is sometimes still called Paskoyac by locals. That was the official name of the town until it was incorporated in 1912 and its name was changed. The word “Paskoyac” comes from the European transliteration “O’Paskoyac,” an attempt to render phonetically the Opaskwayak Cree Nation. Major sites: Sam Waller Museum, Devon Park, Via Station, LaRose Avenue Major developments: The town hosts one of the two main campuses of the University College of the North.
Pharmacist – Warren Hicks: 623-5150 PRESCRIPTION ORDERS: 623-2381 AFTER-HOURS EMERGENCY: 623-6588 Compliance Pill Paks upon request
Full Lotto Service – Cosmetics – Home Health Care Carlton Greeting Cards – Toys – Boxed Chocolates Baby Care – Health and Beauty Aids Newly renovated rooms Dining Room/Lounge/Night Club Sledding Packages On designated routes and close to fuel
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Norman RDC • 1-800-665-4774
Otineka Mall, Opaskwayak, The Pas, MB Fax: 623-2812 Monday – Wednesday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Thursday / Friday 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Photo by David Cobb
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Town Office: 204-627-1100
Adventure North The Pas & Area
R.M. of Kelsey
Welcome to the R.M. of Kelsey
See It All
Population: 2,453
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he Rural Municipality of Kelsey will provide you with a true northern experience. From farming to fishing, the R.M. of Kelsey has what it takes to make your stay both fun and comfortable. The R.M. of Kelsey consists of five diverse areas, which form a wellmanaged and viable jurisdiction.
Location: 600 kilometres north of Winnipeg
Carrot Valley Carrot Valley is one of Canada’s oldest farming areas. Long summer daylight hours and rich soils provide an excellent environment for grain and cattle farming. The rivers and lakes surrounding the area host world-class fishing opportunities year-round and are a sportsman’s delight. During the fall, migratory birds fly overhead. Moose and deer population call this area home.
Little Known Facts: The R.M. of Kelsey is the most northern farming community in Manitoba. Located north of the 53rd parallel, the R.M. of Kelsey has longer daylight hours in the summer, which is equivalent to 10 extra growing days.
Ralls Island Ralls Island area consists of rural residential, small mixed agricultural and hobby farms. The picturesque countryside brings many visitors out to enjoy numerous hiking trails and bird watching. Avid fishermen come to enjoy the great outdoors, where they fish for walleye off the banks of the Saskatchewan River. Young Point / Big Eddy and Umperville Settlements Native culture is kept alive with many aboriginal heritage events being held each year, such as powwows and Opaskwayak Indian Days. Participants come from all over the country to enjoy these events.
Founded: 1945
Major sites: Many of the world’s most beautiful lakes, wildlife and scenery. Visit the R.M. of Kelsey and enjoy what nature has to offer!
Wanless Wanless is an outdoorsman’s dream! The lakes abound in northern pike, walleye and smallmouth bass, which bring people across the nation to enjoy this wonderful area. There are hunting and fishing lodges, along with campgrounds to accommodate tourists and travellers. The Wanless area hosts a Country and Western Jamboree, which brings local talent to the stage each year. Cranberry Portage Cranberry Portage has many wonderful opportunities where you can build your dream home or cottage. The area consists of beautiful beaches with canoe routes, camping sites, lodges, cycling and hiking trails; these offer boundless recreational enjoyment. Join in the fun-filled days of the Canoe Portage Race or visit the World’s Largest Teepee, which is approximately 2,800 square feet. Visit for a weekend or your entire vacation, and enjoy the great outdoors! u
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Adventure North GreenStone
Snow Lake Gold Country’s Recreational Paradise
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now Lake is the perfect spot for a winter holiday. The town is easily accessible by paved highway and is central to the three northern cities. It is just a few minutes off PTH #39, and you will see the tumbling falls at Wekusko Falls on your way. There are many lakes and rivers for ice fishing, and you might experience the thrill of hooking a Master Angler. Plan to stay a few days at a local motel, hotel or bed and breakfast. Wake up to a delicious home cooked breakfast before heading out in the fresh air of our pristine wilderness. Snowmobilers will have a marvelous time on the groomed trails through the boreal forest of the Canadian Shield. The local club hosts the competitive Sno Drifters’ Snow Drags on March 5. Cross country ski trails meander through the forest, and Snow Lake is known internationally for its scenic beauty, so make sure to bring your camera. If you like to stroll through the forest, there are three walking trails with interpretive signage. Brochures are available at various locations, including the Town office. While in town take a stroll to see the indoor and outdoor murals, including the Heritage Mural painted by artist Cindy Santa, and visit the local art gallery and various shops. One of the fun events for the whole family is the Winter Whoot Festival held in early March. It’s so much fun you forget it is winter! For further information, contact Beverley Atkinson, Community Development Officer, at 204-358-7630 or snowlake_cedo@mts.net
Tee off on the scenic golf course
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t’s worth the drive to play at Snow Lake’s challenging and beautiful nine-hole golf course. You will play on a course carved out of the boreal forest, with huge Canadian Shield boulders just off the fairways that will give you an edge if you are veering offcentre – the ball might hit the rocks and bounce right back on the course! There are no sand traps, but with water and other hazards, you will still need all your skills. There’s also a well-groomed practice green. Would you believe no tee times are necessary? A special treat is a view of the lake from certain fairways, and the mine head frame in the background adds a unique touch. Wildlife is frequently sighted, and last time playing on the 7th, we had the joy of seeing a raven flying overhead with a golf ball in its beak. One young player had confessed to losing 12 balls that round, but maybe part of it wasn’t due to bad shots! Foxes and bears have also been sighted, as well as the Canada Geese. Snow Lake Golf Course is located at the centre of the three northern cities: Flin Flon, The Pas and Thompson, so it’s common to have players from those centres come for a day at the course and enter tournaments. As well as enjoying a great game of golf with friendly Snow Lake residents, have a look at the world-renowned scenic beauty of the town and area, plus a tour through the Manitoba Star Attraction Mining Museum. Finish your day with a relaxing dinner on the deck at the clubhouse, or have another round before darkness sets in just before midnight. u
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Norman RDC • 1-800-665-4774
Welcome to Snow Lake Town office: 204-358-2551 Population: 1,050 (estimated) Location: Highway 392 Website: www.snowlake.com Email: snowlake_cedo@mts.net Slogans: “Gold Country’s Recreational Paradise” Founded: 1940s as a result of gold discovery Little known fact: Fur traders of the Hudson’s Bay Co. came through Snow Lake as early as 1692 Major sites: Manitoba Star Attraction Mining Museum, Tramping Lake Petrographs, Wekusko Falls with suspension bridges, Snow Lake Heritage Mural Major events: Sno Drifters Radar Runs in late winter Winter Whoot Festival in March
Adventure North
Adventure North
Greenstone
Greenstone
Flin Flon
Visit the Shield
lin Flon’s unique placement, built upon rock at the edge of the Precambrian Shield, makes the city as scenic from all angles as it is rich in mineral deposits. Thanks to solid infrastructure and abundant recreation opportunities, the area is a wonderland for businesses and vacationers alike. Flin Flon’s population of about 6,000 makes it Manitoba’s sixth largest city, and one of the province’s most thriving communities. Mining has traditionally been, and remains, the city of Flin Flon’s main industry. But Flin Flon’s economic success is built on more than mining. Tourism is a strong secondary industry in the area. Canadians, and American travellers from the northern states to as far down as Texas, visit Flin Flon for abundant fishing and hunting opportunities. Recreational opportunities also abound, with an indoor swimming pool, campgrounds, curling rinks, a junior hockey team, ski club, Ski-Doo club, sailing club, and many other activities available in the city. Flin Flon’s residents have access to many quality services. A 68-bed hospital employs eight doctors, 32 registered nurses and 14 licensed practical nurses. In addition, the city has two dentists, a denturist, an optometrist and a chiropractor. Education options are plentiful for all age groups, with elementary schools (including French Immersion Cur-
riculum), a high school, an alternative learning centre and a University College of the North campus. The city’s public transportation system and taxi service, along with daily air and inter-city bus service, ensures easy access to Flin Flon, and access to all amenities held within the city. In addition, anticipated upgrades to highways throughout the city should continue to make the city’s infrastructure desirable for those looking to invest in northern opportunities. Indeed, Flin Flon has already begun to see its economy diversify, as new businesses and industries begin to take notice of the area. Unique business opportunities such as non-timber forest products that are harvested in the region provide some supplementary income to residents. In 2004, more than $2.5 million in building permits were issued, and the city currently has 22 industrial, 183 residential and 15 commercial lots available. In addition, 2008 marked 75 years for the city of Flin Flon. Many residents returned home for the celebrations. For more information about the city of Flin Flon, visit www.cityofflinflon.com Flin Flon can look ahead to a very bright future, with many new possibilities on the horizon. It is a vibrant northern city with everything a business owner could need, for work and play. u
City Hall: 204-681-7511 Population: 5,800 Location: On the Saskatchewan/ Manitoba border Website: www.cityofflinflon.com Mascot: Flinty Founded: 1933 Major sites: Flin Flon Station Museum, Joe Brain Petting Zoo, Flinty Boardwalk, Phantom Lake Golf Club Major events: Trout Festival, late June; Culture Days (over 34 events) late September; Flin Flon Junior Bombers Hockey, September to April. Call (204) 681-7505 for date details
Photo: Bbob/flickr
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Welcome to Flin Flon
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Adventure North GreenStone
Cranberry Portage An Inspiring Place
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or those looking to relax and enjoy themselves, Cranberry Portage offers excellent and affordable camping, hiking, fishing, and hunting, with our many lodges, campgrounds and lakes. Lake Athapapuskow and the Cranberry Lake/Simon House Lake area are on a divide, with water from the Cranberry running east to the Grassy River chain, into the Burnt Nelson chain, and Lake Athapapuskow’s pristine waters flowing south into the Saskatchewan River. Cranberry Portage is on a route that was used by Henry Kelsey years ago and is one of the most beautiful areas in the North. The Cranberry Portage area began to expand its tourism potential a few years ago, when the Premier of Manitoba announced the development of 1,000 lakeside cottage lots. Since then, two more developments have been put together, offering tourists looking for a peaceful spot in nature many exciting choices. Aside from tranquil settings and peaceful spots, Cranberry Portage offers a number of local attractions guaranteed to keep tourists coming back. One such place is Northern Buffalo Sculptures Gallery. The gallery, which opened in June 2004, is 100 per cent owned and operated by internationally renowned Metis sculptor, Irvin Head. Head started the gallery after working with many other talented artists who originated in Northern Manitoba, and who have since moved to work and market their creations in the southern half of the province. Head and the other artists felt the beauty of the North must return and should be showcased in the North. Cranberry Portage has 140 surveyed lots along Lake Athapapuskow and First Cranberry Lake developed with roads and hydro to all of them. Cranberry Portage is located between the Grassy River Park head waters and Lake Athapapuskow. Cranberry Portage has access to water travel to Flin Flon, northwest 80 kilometers, east 70 kilometers to Elbow Lake and other points north, and south via Rat Creek to the Saskatchewan River. The area’s canoe routes, camp spots, lodges, cycling, walking trails and hiking and ski trails, along with beaches offer boundless recreational opportunities. The scenery and wildlife add to one’s enjoyment. The community is also home to the World’s largest Tipi, (which is approximately 2800 square feet); it was erected during the National Aboriginal Artist Administrators Gathering that was held in Cranberry Portage in August 2007. Feel free to visit Cranberry Portage to experience all the wilderness has to offer. u
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Norman RDC • 1-800-665-4774
Welcome to Cranberry Portage Town office: 204-472-3219 Population: 700 Location: On Highway 10 between the larger communities of Flin Flon and The Pas Slogan: The New Wilderness Adventure Founded: Mid-1950s Major developments: • Cottage lot developments • Community playground • Schist Lake Developers: titled lakefront lots
Adventure North Northwest
Leaf Rapids
Welcome to Leaf Rapids
The North’s Hidden Treasure
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he townsite of Leaf Rapids is situated on a glacial esker five kilometres from the beautiful Churchill River. The location is an idyllic playground for outdoor activities. Local guides ensure safe passage along the nearby Churchill River system. In summer, the mighty Churchill River provides hundreds of kilometres of navigable waterways. The town is a fisherman’s dream come true, because of its abundant northern pike and walleye. Several lakes in the area boast incredible lake trout fishing, and two stocked lakes offer the thrill of fishing for rainbow trout. A variety of hunting opportunities exists, including spring and fall black bear hunts, moose hunts and game bird hunting. For families, tenting facilities are available along with safe sandy beaches that offer quiet relaxation. The walking trails are a delight to the nature lover and berry picker alike. The crystal clear tranquil lakes are ideal for canoe enthusiasts. In winter, cross-country ski trails and snow machine trails criss-cross the area, providing recreation for everybody. A major attraction is the Leaf Rapids Winter Carnival; this event is held in March and provides fun and entertainment for the whole family. Winter or summer, Leaf Rapids is a photographer’s delight. Unsurpassed scenic photo opportunities abound throughout the untouched wilderness area. Recreational Paradise Summer and winter sporting facilities abound in Leaf Rapids. The Churchill River provides hundreds of kilometres of waterways for fishermen dreaming of trophy catches. Local guides ensure safe access to the river, and the great fishing provides family fun. You can experience amazing catches of northern pike and walleye. Nine holes of golf are played surrounded by some of the most breathtakUnparalleled sunsets, hiking trails and ing scenery in northern Manitoba. The golf canoe routes. Trophy fishing and course, like the town itself, was designed hunting with bountiful natural resources. to preserve the integrity of the natural environment. Everywhere you look you are reminded that, only a few short years ago, you would be standing in the middle of an untrammelled wilderness. Turnbull Lake lies four kilometres south of town and offers sandy beaches and crystal clear water for great family fun and entertainment.
Come Home To The North’s Hidden Treasure For a complete listing of homes /cottages available for $35,000 & less visit our website – www.townofleafrapids.ca Town of Leaf Rapids 204-473-2436 Located 1,000 km north of Winnipeg
Population: Approximately 550 Location: In northwestern Manitoba on Provincial Road 391 Website: www.townofleafrapids.ca Slogan: The North’s Hidden Treasure Founded: 1971 Major sites: Town Centre Complex, Churchill River, Churchill River Lodge, Ancient Rock Pictographs, Turnbull Beach, Golf Course, National Exhibition Centre, which is the most northern National Exhibition Centre in Manitoba Major developments: First municipality in North America to ban single-use plastic shopping bags
Natural Resources, Vegetation and Wildlife Leaf Rapids lies in the northern boreal forest region, which is predominantly comprised of jackpine, spruce and tamarack, as well as a variety of low berry bushes, such as blackberry, wild strawberry, gooseberry and high bush cranberries; it extends over northern Manitoba and transitions to the treeless tundra characteristic of the Churchill area. Prominent features in this northern landscape are sandy ridges or ‘eskers,’ which often extend for miles. The town itself is built on such a ridge. These surface ridges of sand and gravel are generally covered with a thin layer of topsoil that supports the growth of trees and a light cover of mosses and lichens. Being well elevated, the eskers have good drainage and are not subject to permafrost, thus offering a stable base for construction. Numerous small lakes and the Churchill River system offer habitat for a variety of fish including northern pike, walleye, trout, grayling and whitefish. The Leaf Rapids environs are also home to numerous species of wildlife, such as black bear, wild rabbit, moose and ptarmigan. The rich wildlife of the region offers opportunities to develop the outdoor recreation environment. u Issue 2 • 2011 • Manitoba’s Northern Experience
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Adventure North Northwest
Lynn Lake Experience True Northern Adventure
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et your senses help you unwind from your hectic life. Take a moment to touch eskers made of sand and gravel crafted by the powers of retreating glaciers that were made decades ago. Gaze at the sky and be mesmerized by the incredible spectacle of the northern lights (aurora borealis). Breathe the purity of the northern boreal forest after a summer rain. Taste the delicacy of fresh pan-fried walleye (pickerel). Listen to the enchanting calls of loons during a sunset. Once you arrive in Lynn Lake, there is no mistaking that you are in Canada’s true north: free, rugged, and breathtaking. Pristine lakes and rivers surrounded by the rugged northern boreal forest offer memories that young and old will treasure for a lifetime. Raw wilderness in an untouched setting offers solitude and an opportunity to become one as a family, and with nature. This is the Land of Little Sticks, where spruce trees have been crafted by the forces of nature. Two provincial parks, Berge Lake and Zed Lake both located within 20 kilometres of Lynn Lake are evidence of the beauty in northwestern Manitoba waiting for you. Lynn Lake is the regional service centre providing a number of essential services and goods for northwestern Manitoba. Education, health care, Manitoba Hydro, Manitoba Conservation District Office, Manitoba Transportation roads crew, and the RCMP provide services regionally and locally. In town, businesses include a Northern Store, a video store, two hotel/motels, two restaurants, a legion, auto garage, gas station, bulk fuel gas and diesel outlet, jewelry/gift shop/Sears Outlet, hardware store, variety store with pharmaceutical pickup, two B&Bs and heavy equipment construction/trucking firms. The special surroundings supported by our businesses and community services attract tourists year-round. Local businesses also extend their services into the region’s lodges and mining camps. The same business services along with necessary local infrastructure are able to support local and regional mineral exploration programs. Located at the end of the road, Lynn Lake is your dependable and affordable air and freight transportation corridor into Nunavut. Lynn Lake is your portal to true northern adventure. Whether you are looking for a relaxing day being the only fisherman on a tranquil lake, or challenging white water canoeing, you will find it here. Annual caribou migrations to the North, abundant moose, bear and wolf populations, extreme snowmobiling, hiking along eskers and, of course, unparalleled affordable and road-accessible sport fishing; it’s all here. Lynn Lake: Your Portal to True Northern Adventure. For further information, visit www.lynnlake.ca u
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Norman RDC • 1-800-665-4774
Lynn Lake – Your adventure starts at the end of the road Population: Approximately 830 Location: 1,100 kilometres north of Winnipeg, 311 kilometres from Thompson Website: www.lynnlake.ca Slogan: Sport Fishing Capital of Manitoba Founded: 1951 Little known fact: Cartoonist Lynn Johnston (For Better or Worse) lived in Lynn Lake for many years. Rock star Tom Cochrane was born in Lynn Lake. Steve Andreychuk, former WHL and NHL hockey player, was raised in Lynn Lake. Devin Latimer of the band Nathan was born and raised in Lynn Lake. Major sites: The murals depicting the region’s natural beauty, Mining Town Museum, Linn Tractor Display. Major events: • Lynn Lake Winter Carnival
Adventure North North central
Churchill Visit Polar Bear Country
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Welcome to Churchill
nown as the Polar Bear and Beluga Whale Capital of the World, Churchill boasts a thriving tourism industry that is associated with growth. New markets such as northern lights (January to September) and North America’s foremost bird watching location (May to July) have served to inspire the development of year-round eco-tourism opportunities. Historically, Churchill has also been on the cutting edge of research and development, commencing with the construction of the Prince of Wales Fort in 1732 and followed by the development of the rail line and the grain port at the start of the 20th century – both still in full operation today. As a result, Churchill has become an international transportation hub that could easily be complemented by a variety of manufacturing opportunities. During the Cold War, Churchill was the ideal location for upper and lower atmospheric research, which produced an infrastructure unlike any other in northern Canada. Today, a fully functioning rocket and research facility waits for its next opportunity, and scientists and researchers from around the world gather to use the facilities at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre. Equipped with dormitories, full-service kitchen facilities, research science labs, observatory domes, a reference library, computer lab and equipment and vehicle rentals, the centre is well positioned to handle any scientific requirement. For those looking to visit or relocate to Churchill, the community has superior standard of living and is bursting with recreational opportunities for families. The jewel in Churchill’s crown is a 240,000-square-foot Town Centre Complex, equipped with an indoor playground, daycare facilities, a curling rink and lounge, arena, gymnasium, swimming pool, library, restaurant, video rental, 300-seat theatre, a K-12 school, the Regional Health Authority and the offices for the Town of Churchill. The facility also features plenty of premier locations for viewing the natural beauty of the Hudson Bay coast. Economic opportunities abound within Churchill as new businesses, such as gift shops, restaurants, hotels, tour operators and other services, expand with the growing demand for the town’s world-class eco-tourism experience. u
Location: 970 kilometres north of Winnipeg by air and 1,700 kilometres by rail Website: www.churchill.ca Slogans: “Polar Bear Capital of the World” “Beluga Whale Capital of the World” Major sites: Polar bears, beluga whales, bird watching, northern lights, Wapusk National Park, York Factory fur trade centre, Fort Prince of Wales, Cape Merry stone battery, Eskimo Museum, Rocket & Research Range, Miss Piggy airplane wreck, MV Ithaca shipwreck Major events: Aurora Winterfest, 1st week of April Hudson Bay Quest, late March/early April
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Adventure North North central
Cross Lake Rich in Heritage, Culture and Tradition By Judy Penz Sheluk
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wo closely related, adjoining but independent communities are known as Cross Lake. One is located on the Cross Lake Indian Reserve, and the other is on nearby provincial crown land. The provincial community consists of non-status and Métis, with a population of about 500. Cross Lake Band Reservation is one of the fastest progressive reservations in Manitoba, and has the largest youth population in all the 63 reservations in Manitoba. Unlike any other native community, Cross Lake Band government is under the leadership of the chief and council (the community is governed by a mayor and council). Cross Lake, so named for its geographical location, is situated on the shores of the Nelson River where the river crosses the lake. Roughly an eight-hour drive from Winnipeg, and about three hours drive from Thompson, a newly constructed bridge offers all-weather road access from provincial road 373 and 374 into the community. Throughout history, the area of Cross Lake has been a centre of fur trade and commerce; a place to meet people and exchange ideas and bond inter-tribal families. Cross Lake was, and still is, rich in heritage, tradition and culture. Present economic activity includes fishing, trapping and local services. Small deposits of lithium, copper and titanium are known in the immediate area, but currently are not economically recoverable. Ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of the community and create long-term economic growth and infrastructure include building a community centre in the future. Provincial funding for a new administration, fire and ambulance building was announced in April 2008. u
Welcome to Cross Lake Cross Lake Community Administrator: 204-676-2465 Population: 7,000 (both community and reserve) Website: www.crosslakeband.ca Location: Approximately 190 air kilometres south of Thompson and 520 air kilometres north of Winnipeg Founded: 1875 Cross Lake Band Events: • Cross Lake Winter Festival (late February/ March) • Cross Lake Indian Days/Annual Treaty Days (late July/early August) • Elder’s Annual Gathering (August) • Pimicikamak Cree Nation Mamawimawacitowin Annual Competition Pow Wow (August) • Battle of Nations Softball (August) • Cross Lake Diabetes Marathon (September) Cross Lake Community Events: • Annual Family Camp Out, July 11 – 21 First Fact: In July 2006, the Royal Canadian Army Cadets launched a corps in Cross Lake, the first ever established on a First Nation in the province. Little Known Fact: Perimeter Airlines flies from Winnipeg to Cross Lake three times per day, Monday to Friday. There is one flight daily on Saturday and Sunday. Cross Lake People’s Cree Name: ‘Nikickonakos’ (Otter People)
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Gillam
Welcome to Gillam Town Office: 204-652-3150
Relax in the Power Capital
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Population: 1,239
illam, the Power Capital of Manitoba, is a small but growing community located north of the 56th parallel, approximately 300 kilometres north of Thompson. The town’s main industry is power generated by Manitoba Hydro, and Gillam has grown along with the need for hydro. Gillam began as a small Native and Métis community, but has grown to a town of more than 1,100 people. With the prospect of several more power dams being built in the area, the population is expected to continue increasing. Gillam boasts an indoor swimming pool – the Nelson River Aquatic Centre – located next to the Gillam Recreation Centre. Open for public swimming for all ages, the pool also offers swimming lessons and private bookings. The pool can comfortably accommodate 50 swimmers and also houses a waterslide and a kiddie pool. As part of Gillam’s beautification plan, several lighted walkway paths are planned to be established throughout the town. A new “Welcome to Gillam” sign will be installed at the entrance to the town. Also adding to the appeal of Gillam is the town’s new driving range, which opened in August 2007. The town includes a credit union, hardware store, an insurance office and post office in a centrally located mall. The main town area is home to a beauty shop, grocery store, convenience store, garage, motor sports shop, liquor vendor/gift and flower shop, a hotel, motel and two restaurants. Gillam has its own hospital and offers regular dental, chiropractic, massage therapy and optometrist visits. The town also has a large school accommodating students from nursery through senior four. There are several ways to get to Gillam. An all-weather road, PR 280, is a wonderful way to see the beautiful terrain surrounding the area. Gillam also enjoys regular air service with Calm Air, daily bus arrivals and departures with Greyhound, and service with Via Rail. You can also travel on to Churchill, the Polar Bear Capital, from Gillam with Via Rail. u
Location: 730 kilometres north of Winnipeg Founded: 1910 Major events: • Winter Carnival, March • Nelson River Firefi ghters Rodeo, June • ATV Rodeo and Raft Races, June • Canada Day Celebrations, July • Ducks Unlimited Fundraising Dinner, May • Fireworks and Welcome Back Weekend, September • Santa Claus Parade, December Major sites: Manitoba Hydro dam site tours, hunting and fishing, aurora borealis Major developments: • Housing Development • Housing Replacement • Pumphouse Beach Upgrading • “Driver Woods” Driving Range • A new Daycare facility construction in 2011
THE TOWN OF GILLAM Welcomes you to fishing, hunting and camping country. Explore the road to Gillam then relax on the train to Churchill. Town Office: 204-652-3150 Website: www.townofgillam.com Location: 730 kilometres north of Winnipeg by air, 1,065 kilometres north of Winnipeg by road, 1,401 kilometres north of Winnipeg by rail. Issue 2 • 2011 • Manitoba’s Northern Experience
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Norway House Cree Nation Thriving Community
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ne of the largest First Nations in Manitoba, Norway House Cree Nation is a thriving and vibrant community. Located approximately 874 kilometres north of Winnipeg, it has a population of 6,258 members. The reserve consists of 19,435 acres along the southern shoreline of Little Playgreen Lake and the Nelson River. The Norway House resource area is comprised of 43 registered traplines, encompassing approximately 5.2 million acres. Norway House boasts a large number of amenities, including a hospital and personal care home, three schools, four churches, apartment buildings and public work facilities, such as a housing warehouse, water treatment plant and water truck warehouse. The community has seen a significant amount of infrastructure and community developments since 1994, such as the Kinosao Sipi Multiplex, a new Council and Administration Building, York Boat Inn, retail mall and cellular phone service. Culture and traditions are important aspects of life in Norway House. Events like the Annual Pipoon Festival, Powwow and the Annual Treaty & York Boat Days are celebrated each year. With exceptional services available in the community, Norway House has the ability to host many important events, such as the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs AGA and Manitoba Keewatinook Ininew Okimowin AGA. Employment for Members is a priority, with new opportunities for employment created by projects such as the clean up efforts at two-mile and eight-mile channels, establishing winter roads to Oxford House, God’s Lake and God’s River. New areas for employment in coming years will include the tourism sector. Top-quality education is another priority, and 2004 marked the beginning of a new era for Norway House Cree Nation and its Membership. The community celebrated the grand opening of the Helen Betty Osborne Ininew Education Resource Centre. Another initiative toward advancing education options has been the conversion of the Norway House High School into a postsecondary facility serving as a home for the University College of the North. Negotiations have been ongoing for the final phase of the school project, which will house a brand new Community Complex. Norway House recognizes that the strength of the future community lies with the youth; therefore, it is important to provide youth with opportunities for quality education, give them the ability to learn and use different technologies, introduce them to politics and athletics and encourage them to be creative and imaginative. Norway House brought the first-ever cellular phone service to a First Nations community in the North – an initiative of which 54
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we are extremely proud. The cellular tower was erected in August 2003, and service was in place by November 2003, with a radius of 25 kilometres. The availability of such service has improved the communication ability of the community. Kistapinanik Mall was completed in 1998, after a year of construction. It was planned as an initiative to create jobs, provide business opportunities, generate rental revenue for the Band and alleviate the need for Band Members to travel in order to access shopping and services. The vision for the mall was to attract customers from surrounding communities and contribute to strengthening the local economy. The mall currently includes the following tenants: Northwest Company Myleen’s Treasures Quikstop Food Court Cree Nation Design Royal Bank Creelite Communications Ranger Insurance Canada Post Office Teekca’s Boutique K.S. Dental Centre Norway House Cree Nation has many small businesses, such as the Fisherman’s Co-op Gas Bar, Apetagon’s Gas Bar & Repair Shop, Anderson’s Fuel and Confectionary, Super Video World, etc., with most being locally owned and operated. Norway House also serves your shopping needs with the Northern Fort and Low’s Family Foods stores. There are also four restaurants in town: the York Boat Diner, Shania’s, Chicken Chef and Riverside Restaurant. Apetagon’s Video also has take-out food. Visitors to the area are well-served with local accommodations at the York Boat Inn, Riverside Cottages and the Playgreen Inn. Forty-two air miles northeast of Norway House, amidst the beauty of the Canadian wilderness, lies the ultimate in trophy fly-in fishing – Molson Lake Lodge. With three species of trophy-sized fish – northern, walleye and lake trout – complemented by unsurpassed service, it is no wonder guests of Molson Lake Lodge are 90 per cent repeats or referrals. The American Plan main lodge on Molson Lake offers world-class fishing along with all the amenities of a five-star resort. Staff will assure that your stay in “God’s Country” will be in firstclass comfort. Washahagin Lake Lodge is 37 air miles east of Norway House. The fishing at Washahagin Lake is exceptional for the walleye and northern pike. The lodge is open from June until September. Washahagin Lodge is accessible only by float plane. Washahagin Lake Lodge is a great fly-in fishing camp, with beautiful scenery and hospitality that is second to none.
Adventure North North central
During the winter months, Norway House has much recreation to offer. The Multiplex is home to many recreational activities, including hockey, curling, minor hockey, and a drop-in centre. The Junior “B” Northstars also participate in the Keystone Junior “B” Hockey League, against teams from down south such as Pequis and Winnipeg. The Minor Hockey Association also has various tournaments throughout the year for the different age categories. Norway House also boasts a “AA” Midget hockey team that won the Provincial Championship in 2005. Honouring our Elders is a tradition that goes way back. The Elders are acknowledged during Treaty & York Boat Days and again during Christmas. Elders receive gifts from Chief & Council on behalf of the Membership, and a feast is given in honour of the Elders. The Annual Pipoon (Winter) Festival is held in the month of March. Many activities are enjoyed during the festival, including the King & Queen Trappers event, dogsledding, snowshoeing and traditional square dancing. In the summer months, the recreation department is busy fulfilling the needs of the community, which is no small order. The community hosts traditional and cultural events during both National Aboriginal Day and Canada Day, including York Boat excursions, fireworks, powwow and traditional events. The Annual Powwow is held during the last month of July, and allows community members to participate in cultural and traditional events. Dancers come from all over North America to compete for cash and other prizes.
Treaty and York Boat Days, which are usually held in early August, are the main attraction during the summer. Competitors and spectators from all over the world come to Norway House. The celebration takes place the first week in August, starting on Monday and finishing up on Sunday. Activities include children’s events, adult events, basketball, volleyball, card tournaments and marathons. The main attraction of the week is the Men’s and Women’s World York Boat Championships, with a grand prize of $25,000 going to the winner of each of event. The races commemorate the old fur trading tradition, when men from Norway House would use York Boats to haul freight for a living. Visit Norway House Cree Nation’s website at www.nhcn.ca u Norway House Office P.O. Box 250 Norway House, MB R0B 1B0 Phone: 204-359-6786 Fax: 204-359-4186 Email: nhcreent@mb.sympatico.ca Winnipeg Office 780-125 Garry St. Winnipeg, MB R3C 2P2 Phone: 204-957-0968 Fax: 204-957-0981 Email: nhcn@escape.ca
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Thompson Hub of the North
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ocated in the north central portion of pristine northern Manitoba is the City of Thompson; the Hub of the North. The award winning Spirit Way Walkway characterized by the famous artistically painted concrete wolf statues howling toward the sky, and the range of services, shopping and comfortable amenities nestled in the middle of the northern boreal forest help define Thompson - the largest community in northern Manitoba, offering something for everyone. Thompson’s a modern and progressive community that is active in its own development and realizes the importance of working with the region, levels of government, First Nations, businesses, and other stakeholders. We recognize that we have an essential role to serve well in terms of being a regional service centre; transportation, education, medical, a centre for First Nations leadership, government and business services combined make us the ‘Hub of the North’. The relationship between Thompson and the region is best understood in terms of collective sustainability achieved by working together and Thompson Unlimited is a
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resource available to assist this process. Thompson is committed to working on creating the kind of community that is rich in opportunities and invites the region to participate. Thompson is located 830 km north of the American border, and 750 km north of the province’s capital city – Winnipeg. Several towns and First Nation communities located in northern Manitoba have established transportation links with Thompson, either by road, train, or air. Thompson is located in the Precambrian Shield on the shores of the Burntwood River. It is nestled amongst numerous lakes and rivers, and is surrounded by the boreal forest. The community rests alongside one of the most productive nickel deposits in Canada. Current labour shortages experienced in Thompson and in other communities across Canada are expected by experts to worsen in the years that come. This shortage will inevitably affect businesses and consumers. Within this shortage, though, will bring enhanced opportunities for people wanting to participate in the labour force. Entrepreneurial opportunities also
Adventure North North central
Thompson – the City of Unlimited Opportunities For further information about Thompson, please contact Thompson Unlimited – Thompson’s Economic Development Corporation. 206 – 55 Selkirk Avenue Thompson, MB R8N 1P1 Phone: 204-677-1900 Toll Free: 1-866-965-3386 info@thompsonunlimited.ca www.thompsonunlimited.ca
Welcome to Thompson Population: 13,446 (2006 Stats Canada Census Population) Location: Approximately 740 km north of Winnipeg along Provincial Highway #6 north Website: www.thompson.ca Slogan: Hub of the North Mascot: King Miner Founded: City incorporated in 1970 Major Events: • Nov. 11 – Remembrance Day Ceremony CA Nesbitt Arena 10:00 am • Nov. 26 – Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade • Dec. 15 – January 7, Winter Wonderland at McCreedy Park • Feb. – Winter Fest, for more information call 204677-7952 or www.REC411.ca • Feb. 12, 2011 – Melville Boys, Manitoba Theater held at the LetkemanTheatre for more information call 204-677-7952 or www.REC411.ca • April 13, 2011 – Janelle Nadeau, Pedal and Lever Harp / Voice. Letkeman Theatre for more information call 204-677-7952 or www.REC411.ca • Burntwood Curling Club – for more information call 204-677-2580 • Heritage North Museum exhibit Room Show and Sale, for more information call 204-677-2216 • Mystery Mountain Winter Park – downhill skiing and cross country skiing – For more information 204-778-8624 • Thompson Regional Community Centre – Upcoming Thompson events – for more information call 204677-7952 or www.REC411.ca Major Sites: Basket Ball Courts, Heritage North Museum, Fireman’s Tribute, King Miner Statue, Millennium Trail, Mystery Mountain Winter Park, Norseman Plane Tribute, Paint Lake Provincial Park, Pisew Falls, Rotary Park, Spirit Way Walkway, Tennis Courts, Thompson Golf Club, Thompson Skate Park, Thompson Zoo, World’s largest lighted mural Major Developments: Coming soon: Best Western Hotel, Coming soon: Domino’s Pizza, Coming soon: Fastenal, Extension of Thompson Regional Airport gravel runway, Implication of the Thompson Economic Diversification Working Group, New building and location Employment Services , New building and location Rick’s Marine, New Restaurant River View Express, Ongoing Wuskwatim Dam Construction, Our Home Kikinaw project, Proposed Keewatin Housing Authority Affordable Housing Development, Rebuild of Thompson Regional Airport runway, University College of the North – Thompson Campus development, Update of the Thompson Water Treatment Plant, Upgrade, third and final phase of Thompson Regional Community Centre , Upgraded Cliff Park tennis courts and basketball courts Issue 2 • 2011 • Manitoba’s Northern Experience
Rights managed by Thompson Unlimited – photo © Larry Hall
exist and can attract persons to become self-employed. Assistance is available through Thompson Unlimited and other organizations to help address shortages by matching persons looking for work to employment opportunities, or link to training either through industry or government sources. Investment opportunities are invited to Thompson. Big box retailers, real estate developers, and openings of new franchises in the community are some of the opportunities available. The development of the new UCN Thompson Campus, and hydro dam constructions are some of the larger public and private sector developments that help create new business opportunities. The emerging tourism industry and working on developing the winter weather testing industry are longer term efforts that speak to diversifying the economy from a community based, bottom-up approach. Thompson’s commitment to working with First Nations is clear. The Aboriginal Accord signed on National Aboriginal Day in 2009 is an affirmation of the partnership that Aboriginals and the City of Thompson have in the social, economic and environmental dimensions to Thompson. The Accord states that positive relationships must grow between the City of Thompson and Aboriginal communities based upon a foundation of the shared values of honesty, respect, mutual sharing and contribution. This Accord affirms more can be gained by working together. u
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Nelson House Where Three Rivers Meet By Judy Penz Sheluk
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elson House is located on the north shore of Footprint Lake, at the convergence of the Burntwood, Footprint and Rat Rivers, approximately 80 kilometres west of Thompson. The lands, totalling 14,460 acres or 5,852 hectares, are comprised of four reserves (Nelson House #170, #170A, #170B, #170C), and are populated by the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN). The Cree name Nisichawayasihk means “Where three rivers meet.” As nomadic people, NCN’s ancestors developed a spiritual connection and respect for the lands and waters for their life-giving bounty from fishing, hunting, trapping and the fruits and medicinal plants from the forests. The lands of the Nelson River area are part of the northern boreal forest comprised of tracts of black and white spruce wilderness interspersed with rivers and lakes. Although the traditional economy of fishing, hunting, gathering and trapping is valued and will be preserved, this young nation is also focusing on economic diversity. In 2006, NCN made a significant investment as a partner with Manitoba Hydro in the Wuskwatim Project, a 200-megawatt hydroelectric generating station built at Taskinigahp Falls on the Burntwood River in the Nelson House Resource Management Area. NCN is also committed to ongoing investment diverse range of economic development opportunities in tourism and construction. u
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Welcome to Nelson House Cree Name: Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation NCN Band Office: 204-484-2332 Population: 2,095 Location: Approximately 80 kilometres west of Thompson, 250 kilometres northeast of The Pas, and 813 kilometres north of Winnipeg Website: www.ncncree.com Founded: 1908 NCN Companies: Mystery Lake Motor Hotel (Thompson), Nisichawayasihk Construction Limited Partnership, Taskinigahp Power Corp., Nelson House Development Corporation Little Known Fact: More than 60 per cent of NCN are between 13- and 30-years-old; at the 2006 census, the median age at Nelson House was 18.9 years.
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Bissett
Welcome to Bissett Council Office: 204-277-5218
The Hidden Paradise!
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Location: 250 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg on Provincial Road 304 Founded: In existence since 1911, officially recognized in 1972 Major sites: Bissett Gold Mine, Rice Lake Major events: Bisset Combined Curling Bonspiel – dates vary from year to year.
• Bissett
Photo by Andrew Rivlin
issett is located in the heart of wilderness country, situated on the shores of Rice Lake, 250 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg on PR #304. There are endless recreational opportunities that await the eager outdoor enthusiast in all seasons. Fishing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, skiing, hiking, camping, swimming, boating and canoeing, just to name a few. Campgrounds in the area are English Brook, Wanipigow Lake and Wallace Lake. You can contact Mark at 204-277-5463 for further information on these camping locations. Blue Water Aviation is located right within the community and can be contacted by calling its office at 204-277-5536. Fishing Lake Lodge and Outfitters can accommodate those looking for a remote fishing experience. Call 204-277-5262 for more information. Bissett is located a short distance from Nopiming Provincial Park and Atikaki Wilderness Park. Bissett offers services from lodging at Hotel San Antonio, 204-277-5250; and Northern Wings B&B, 204-277-5215; gas and hardware at Dee’s Service, 204277-5585; lumber from W. Zirk Lumber, 204-277-5275; Wynne’s Place groceries, laundromat and restaurant, 204-277-5500; and contracting services by Clinton Spence, 204-277-5070, and Byron Grapentine, 204-277-5262, and W. Zirk Contracting, 204-277-5275. Bissett is host to an Annual Mixed Bonspiel each March and an Annual Fish Derby each August long weekend. Please visit our website at www.granite.mb.ca/bissett We can be contacted by phone at 204-277-5218, or by email bissett@granite.mb.ca or fax 204-277-5521. u
Population: 125, fluctuating with the rise and fall of the Bissett Gold Mine
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LISTINGS
Lodges, Accommodations and Services Listing Churchill Adventure Walking Tours Ph: 204-675-2147 Fax: 204-675-2103 Nature hikes, birdwatching Arctic Trading Company Ph: 204-675-8804 Fax: 204-675-2164 www.arctictradingco.com Canadian indigenous art Aurora Inn Ph: 204-675-2071 Toll free: 1-888-840-1344 www.aurora-inn.mb.ca Spacious suites Bear Country Inn Ph: 204-675-8299 26 cosy rooms, courtesy van Bear’s Den B&B Ph: 204-675-2556 Blue Sky Bed & Sled Ph: 204-675-2001 www.blueskymush.com Dog sledding/B&B Boreal Projects Ltd. Ph: 204-675-8866 July and August by appointment Calm Air International LP Ph: 204-778-6471 or 1-800-839-2256 Fax: 204-778-6954 www.calmair.com Charters, air service in Manitoba/Nunavut Caskey B&B Ph: 204-675-2962 Churchill Arctic Travel Ph: 204-675-2811 Toll free: 1-800-267-5128
Eskimo Museum Ph: 204-675-2030 Great White Bear Tours Ph: 204-675-2781 Toll free: 1-866-765-8344 www.greatwhitebeartours.com Gypsy’s Bakery Ph: 204-675-2322 Fax: 204-675-2413 Hudson Bay Helicopters Ph: 204-675-2576 Toll free: 1-867-873-5146 www.HudsonBayHeli.com Helicopter charters and tours Hudson Bay Port Company Ph: 204-675-8823 Iceberg Inn Ph: 204-675-2228 8 rooms, Sears outlet Kivalliq Air Ph: 204-675-2086 Toll free: 1-877-855-1500 Lazy Bear Lodge & Café Ph: 204-675-2969 Toll free: 1-866-OUR-BEAR www.lazybearlodge.com Lodging, dining and tours Nanuk Entertainment Ph: 204-675-2303 North Star Tours Ltd. Ph: 204-675-2356 Northern Ph: 204-675-8891
Churchill Chamber of Commerce Ph: 204-675-2022 Toll free: 1-888-389-2327
Northern Images Ph: 204-675-2681
Churchill Motel Ltd. Ph: 204-675-8853 Fax: 204-675-8228 26 rooms, shuttle service
Parks Canada Ph: 204-675-8863
Churchill Wild Ph: 204-377-5090 Toll free: 1-888-UGO-WILD (846-9453) Remote fly-in eco-lodge Churchill Wilderness Encounter Ph: 204-675-2248
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Dymond Lake Outfitters Toll free: 1-888-WEBBERS (932-2377) www.webberslodges.com Remote fly-in fishing and hunting packages
Norman RDC • 1-800-665-4774
Northern Nights Lodge Ph: 204-675-2403
Pizza by the Bay Ph: 204-675-8262 Polar Bear B&B Ph: 204-675-2819 Polar Cinema Ph: 204-675-8452 Polar Inn & Suites Ph: 204-675-8878 Toll free: 1-877-765-2742 www.polarinn.com
Sea North Tours Ph: 204-675-2195 Fax: 204-675-2198 www.seanorthtours.coms Tour boat/snorkeling Seaport Hotel Ph: 204-675-8807 Fax: 204-675-2795 21 rooms/licensed dining Tamarack Rentals Ph: 204-675-2192 Vehicle rentals
Flin Flon Aberdeen Lodge Ph: 204-687-0495 (summer) or 204-623-6710 (winter) Amigo’s Pizza and Tacos Ph: 204-687-6241
The Tundra Buggy Adventure Toll free: 1-800-663-9832 Fax: 204-667-1051 www.tundrabuggy.com ®
Tundra Inn Ph: 204-675-8831 Toll free: 1-800-265-8563 Fax: 204-675-2764 www.tundrainn.com Vera’s B&B Ph: 204-675-2544 Wapusk Adventures & General Store Ph: 204-675-2887 Fax: 204-675-8042 Dog sledding/souvenirs and gifts Via Rail Toll free: 1-888-842-7245 www.viarail.ca Wat’chee Lodge Ltd. Ph: 204-675-2114 www.watchee.com Winter wildlife viewing
Cormorant Cormorant Lakeshore Guesthouse Ph: 204-357-2218 (evenings) Cormorantlake@mts.net www.mts.net/~bshlache/
Cranberry Portage Caribou Lodge Ph: 204-472-3351 Constables Lakeside Lodge Ph: 204-472-3241 (summer or winter) Cranberry Portage Park Ph: 204-472-3219 Ludcran@mts.net Northern Spirit Lodge Ph: 204-472-3285 www.northernspiritlodge.ca Tonepah Lodge Ph: 204-472-3372
Viking Lodge Ph: 204-472-3337 www.mts.net/~viking/ index.htm
Bakers Narrows Lodge Ph: 1-866-603-6390 info@bakersnarrowslodge.com www.bakersnarrowslodge.com Bearskin Airlines Ph: 204-687-8941 Calm Air International LP Ph: 204-778-6471 or 1-800-839-2256 Fax: 204-778-6954 www.calmair.com Charters, air service in Manitoba/Nunavut Chicken Chef Ph: 204-687-3779 Donut King Ph: 204-687-8522 Flin Flon Station Museum Ph: 204-687-2946 Friendship Center Restaurant Ph: 204-687-4525 Gateway Drive-In Ph: 204-687-4338 Greenstone CFDC Ph: 204-687-6967 Fax: 204-687-4456 Hong Kong Restaurant Ph: 204-687-4941 Kelsey Dining Room Ph: 204-687-7555 KFC Ph: 204-687-6078 Mike’s Ice N Burger Hut Ph: 204-687-8600 Missinipi Airways Ph: 204-687-8000 Mugsys Café & Deli Ph: 204-687-7676 Oreland Motel Ph: 204-687-3467 Paradise Lodge Ph: 204-687-8175 (summer) or 204-687-3070 (winter) Phantom Lake Golf Club Ph: 306-688-5555 Fax: 306-688-3104
Pizza Hut Express Ph: 204-687-8522 Royal Ribs & Steakhouse and the Royal Hotel Ph: 204-687-3437 Subway Ph: 204-687-5558 Victoria Inn Ph: 204-687-7555 Fax: 204-687-5233 Wings over Kississing Ph: 204-687-8247
Gillam ACE Gillam Bed & Breakfast Ph: 1-888-286-0433 204-652-2623 (Seasonal) hunting@mts.net ACE Wilderness Guiding Service Ph: 1-888-286-0433 204-383-5628 (seasonal) Aurora Gardens Motel Ph: 204-652-6554 Motel and restaurant Chow’s Chester Fried Ph: 204-652-5050 Doug’s Lodge Ph: 204-652-2259 Fox River Outfitters Ph: 204-652-6441 Gillam Air Services Ltd. Ph: 204-652-2109 Gillam Co-op Ltd. Ph: 204-652-2661 Gillam Motor Inn Ph: 204-652-2670 Lucky’s tavern, licensed Grey Goose Ph: 204-652-6395 Monkman Outfitters Ph: 204-444-4025 Town of Gillam Ph: 204-652-2121 Trapper’s Shack Ph: 204-652-2160 Via Rail Canada Inc. Ph: 1-888-842-7245 Westwood Lodge Ph: 204-687-6307 www.westwoodlodge.ca
Grand Rapids ET Trucking Service Inc. Ph: 204-639-2386 G.R. Consumer’s Co-op Ph: 204-639-2434
LISTINGS Grand Rapids Esso Ph: 204-639-2459 Open 24 hours, gas, diesel, garage, towing, restaurant, etc. Grand Rapids Taxi Ph: 204-639-2338 Grey Goose Bus Lines Ph: 204-639-2459
Leaf Rapids Community Development Corporation (LRCDC) Ph: 204-473-2978 Social and economic development, apartment rentals, housing sales, small business loans
Hilltop Cabins Ph: 204-639-2380
Leaf Rapids Education Centre Ph: 204-473-2403
Hobbs Resort Ph: 204-639-2266
Leaf Rapids Health Centre Ph: 204-473-2441
King’s Boat Repair Ph: 204-639-2279
Leaf Rapids National Exhibition Centre Ph: 204-473-8682
Manitoba Hydro Ph: 204-639-4138 Moak Lodge Campground Ph: 204-739-2669 www.moaklodge.com Misipawistik Cree Nation Ph: 204-639-2219 Fax: 204-639-2503
Leaf Rapids Public Library Ph: 204-473-2742 Leaf Rapids Town Properties (LRTP) Ph: 204-473-8118 Leaf Rapids Youth Centre Ph: 204-473-8861
Northbrook Inn Ph: 204-639-2380
Natural Resources Ph: 204-473-8113
Pelican Landing Restaurant Ph: 204-639-2184
Town of Leaf Rapids Ph: 204-473-2436
Pelican Landing Gasbar Ph: 204-639-2402
Wistoba Connection, LLC Ph: 608-356-0243 Ph: 202-473-8837 Vacation rental, fully furnished, fishing, family fun, wildlife, boating, golf, hunting/outfitters
Town of Grand Rapids Ph: 204-639-2260 Fax: 204-639-2475
Yves Plumbing and Heating Ph: 204-473-8837
Lynn Lake Atiik Askii Adventure Tours Ph: 204-356-2500 Summer and winter tours Betty’s Bed & Breakfast Ph: 204-356-8328 Fax: 204-356-8328 Home-cooked meals, cable Betty’s Country Cooking and Jennifer’s Lounge Ph: 204-356-8050 Fine dining, lounge with VLTs The Bronx Ph: 204-356-2471 Housekeeping suites, cable Cat Train Tours Ph: 204-356-8845 Fax: 204-356-8845 Clarke’s Health and Variety Ph: 204-356-2572 Gloewen Enterprises Ph: 204-356-8511 Propane Distributor Grand Slam Lodge Ph: 204-356-8648 (winter) or 306-758-3188 (summer)
Grey Goose Ph: 204-356-2918 Fax: 204-356-8408 Bus depot
Lynn Lake Video Ph: 204-356-8051 DVD, VHS video and game rentals, gift shop
Grey Owl Outfitters Ph: 204-356-8261
Northern Store Ph: 204-356-2272 Groceries, retail
Halstead Motors Ph: 204-356-2703
Nueltin Fly-in Lodge Ph: 204-356-8805
Laurie River Lodge Ph: 1-800-426-2533 www.laurieriverlodge.com
Patty’s Place Ph: 204-356-2918 Fax: 204-356-8408 Groceries, video
Lynn Lake Air Service Ph: 204-356-8805
Perimeter Aviation Ltd. Ph: 1-800-917-2555
Lynn Lake Airport Ph: 204-356-2900 or 204-356-8552 Flight services and air service information
Royal Canadian Legion Ph: 204-356-2238 Sanche Hardware Ph: 204-356-2428 Fax: 204-356-8066
Lynn Lake Esso Ph: 204-356-8692 Fax: 204-356-8259
Town of Lynn Lake/ Lynn Lake Campground Ph: 204-356-2418
Lynn Lake Fly-In Outpost Camps Ph: 1-800-700-3807
Transwest Air Ph: 204-356-2457 Fax: 204-356-8018 Charter air service
Lynn Inn Inc. Ph: 204-356-2433 Fax: 204-356-8780 25 rooms/suites, licensed Lynn Lake Mining Museum Ph: 204-356-8302
Wolverine Lodge Ph: 760-770-0810 320-732-6843 www.wolverinelodge.net
Leaf Rapids Centre Auto Ph: 204-473-8116 Churchill River Lodge & Outfitters Ph: 204-473-2362 403-932-1237 Accommodations, boat rentals, gas
Lynn Lake
Consumer Co-op Ph: 204-473-2411 Groceries, hardware, clothing, appliances, furniture Fields Ph: 204-473-2783 Department store G’s Place Ph: 204-473-2754 Gold Cook Ol’ Man’s Restaurant Ph: 204-473-8276 Grey Goose Ph: 204-473-2754 King’s Health & Variety Ph: 204-473-8111 Lakeland Air Service Ph: 204-473-2963
Where lifetime memories are created. For further information, visit www.lynnlake.ca or call 204-356-2418
The Sportfishing Capital of Manitoba
With untouched lakes and rivers, rolling eskers and the northern boreal forest, Lynn Lake is home to moose, geese, bear, and wolf. Wintertime activity includes snowmobiling trips as well as caribou sightings. A special experience for serious outdoor adventurers wanting more and for families wanting time for themselves awaits at Lynn Lake – northwestern Manitoba’s centre. Lynn Lake – Where your adventure starts at the end of the road. Lynn Lake was a preferred location for two tapings of Bob Izumi’s The Real Fishing Show.”
Welcoming all anglers to Lynn Lake – Sportfishing Capital of Manitoba
For brochures, call 204-356-2418 or visit our website at www.lynnlake.ca
Issue 2 • 2011 • Manitoba’s Northern Experience
61
LISTINGS
Norway House Anderson Car Wash & Store Ph: 204-359-4270 Anderson Towing Ph: 204-359-4296 Apetagon’s Ph: 204-359-6696 Gas/propane
Opaskwayak Cree Nation
Gogal Air Service Ph: 204-358-2259 burntwood@burntwood.com
Aseneskak Casino Ph: 204-627-2250 or 1-877-627-2267
Lakeshore Bed & Breakfast Ph: 204-358-6501
Kikiwak Inn Ph: 204-623-1800 or 1-888-545-4925 kikiwak@kikiwakinn.net www.kikiwakinn.net
Chicken Chef Ph: 204-359-6646
Opaskwayak Cree Nation Ph: 204-627-7100
Fort Island Auto Group Ph: 204-359-6503
Main Street Laundromat Ph: 204-358-9797 Manitoba Star Attraction Mining Museum Ph: 204-358-7867 slmuseum@gillamnet.com Northern Mist Wild Rice Ph: 204-358-2131
Low’s Family Foods Ph: 204-359-6689
Otineka Mall Ph: 204-627-7230
Northern Ph: 204-359-6258
Snow Lake
Snow Lake Golf Club Ph: 204-358-2744
Norway House Community Council Ph: 204-359-6719
Angilina’s Pizza Ph: 204-358-2611
Snow Lake Home Building Centre Ph: 204-358-2343 Fax: 204-358-2770
Snow Lake Art Gallery Ph: 204-358-2533
Bartlett’s Fishing Camp Ph: 204-358-2383
Norway House Co-op Ph: 204-359-4633 Gas bar
Bluenose Bed & Breakfast 107 Cherry Street 204-358-7305 Email bluenbb@mts.net Website http://web. me.com/gzamzow/ Bluenosebb/Home.html
Norway House Cree Nation Ph: 204-359-6786 Norway House Riverside Outdoor Adventures Ph: 204-359-4444 or 1-877-778-4447 www.norwayhouseriver.com
Burntwood Lake Lodge Ph: 204-358-7114 burntwood@burntwood.com
Perimeter Aviation Ph: 204-359-6311
Chell’s Sled Shed 204-358-7911
Playgreen Inn Ph: 204-359-6321 16 rooms, beverage room
Clovelly Lakeshore Apartments Ph: 204-358-2846 lakeshoreapts@mts.net
Riverside Restaurant Ph: 204-359-4866
Connie’s Taxi Ph: 204-358-2933 Fax: 204-358-2004
Skyward Aviation Ph: 204-359-4900 Super Video World Ph: 204-359-6089 York Boat Inn Ph: 204-359-6550 Fax: 204-359-6444 32 rooms, cable TV
Snow Lake Motor Inn Ph: 204-358-2331 Fax: 204-358-7449 simpsone@mts.net 11 rooms, dining, licensed Sunset Bay Bed & Breakfast 204-358-2145 or 358-0065 or 358-0071 Email: sunsetbaybb@mts.net Sweet Nothings Florist & Giftware Ph: 204-358-7659 Tawow Lodge Ph: 204-358-2485 candyce@tawowlodge.com Town of Snow Lake Ph: 204-358-2551 www.snowlake.com
Cornerview Family Foods Ph: 204-358-2928 Fax: 204-358-2055
Wekusko Falls Lodge 204-358-2341 toll free 877-358-2341 info@wekuskofallslodge.com
Diamond Willow Inn and Willow House Ph: 204-358-2842 diamond_willow@mts.net
Wekusko Falls Provincial Campground Ph: 204-358-2521 1-888-482-2267
Franal’s Snow Lake Service Ph: 204-358-2325
For further information, contact Beverley Atkinson, Community Development Officer, at 204-358-7630 or snowlake_cedo@mts.net
The Pas A&W Restaurant & Drive-Thru Ph: 204-623-2246 www.aw.ca Alouette Hotel Ph: 204-623-2272 Fax: 204-623-6873 Atikameg Forest Centre Ph: 204-623-3983 Forest tours, in-town tours Aseneskak Casino Ph: 1-877-627-2267 www.aseneskak.ca/main.htm Bearskin Airlines Ph: 204-624-5106 Fax: 204-624-4108 Airport Missinippi Airways Ph: 204-623-7160 Fax: 204-623-3635
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Norman RDC • 1-800-665-4774
Golden Arrow Motel Ph: 204-623-5451 Fax: 204-623-5457 Rooms 39.95 single or double. “A clean, quiet place to stay” Golden Star Chinese Food Ph: 204-623-7879 Fax: 204-623 5111 Good Thymes Restaurant & Bar Ph: 204-623-2412 Fax: 204-623 4008 Gourmet Pizza Ph: 204-623-5469 Grey Goose Ph: 204-623-3999 Fax: 204-623-4533 www.greyhound.ca Halcrow Lake Golf & Country Club Ph: 204-627-2300
Canadian Territorial Helicopters Inc. Ph: 204-624-5776 Fax: 204-624-5761
Huskie Travel Services Ltd. Ph: 204-623-3414 Fax: 204-623-3416
Carpenters Clearwater Lodge Ph: 204-624-5467 Fax: 204-624-5606 cclodge@mailme.ca www.carpenterslodge.com TV, convention/banquet facilities, games room, beach, boats, motors
Kelsey Bus Lines Ltd. Ph: 204-623-2161 Fax: 204-623-4810
Clearwater Canoe Outfitters Ph: 204-624-5606 or 204-624-5647
Kikiwak Inn Ph: 204-623-1800 or 1-888-545-4925 Fax: 204-623-1812 Kikiwak@kikiwakinn.net Lounge, fitness facility, outdoor pool, WC access
Custom Helicopters Limited Ph: 204-623-4595 Fax: 204-623-4595 Dutch Drive In Ltd. Ph: 204-623-3721 Drive-in restaurant, chicken, fish, shrimp, ice cream, burgers, home style chips
• Indoor Pool & Water Slide • Hot Tub • Free “Super Start” Breakfast • Large Parking Lot For Trailers & Vans • Meeting Room Facilities • Free Wireless Internet • Coin Operated Laundry Under New Management
For Toll-free Reservations: 1-800-800-8000
Fat Boy Restaurant Ph: 204-623-6322
Burger Ranch 2000 Ph: 204-623-1451
1717 Gordon Ave., The Pas, MB
(204) 623-1888
Evergreen Resort Ph: 204-624-5750 Fax: 204-623-4686 fkobelka@mts.net www.evergreenthepas.com Cabin rental, hunting and fishing
Kentucky Fried Chicken Ph: 204-623-2120 Fax: 204-623 3712 www.kfc.com
La Verendrye Motel Ph: 204-623-3431 Fax: 204-623-6873 Mr. Ribs Ph: 204-623-4888 Fax: 204-623-6475 New Avenue Hotel Ph: 204-623-6255 New Colony Restaurant Ph: 204-623-1674 New Vickery Lodge Ph: 1-888-624-5429 Fax: 204-624-5429 Full service, drive-in, guides, store, hunting, fishing, open May-October North Country Air Service Ph: 204-623-7594 Fax: 204-623-3857
LISTINGS Adventure Territory – The Pas & Area Tourism Group Ph: 1-866-627-1134 towntp@mts.net Pizza Hut Express Ph: 204-623-7888 Fax: 204-623-3055 R.M. of Kelsey Ph: 204-623-7474 Rupert House Hotel (1984) Ltd. Ph: 204-623-3201 Fax: 204-623-1651 Daily, weekly, monthly rates, kitchenettes Sam Waller Museum Ph: 204-623-3802 Fax: 204-623-5506 www.samwallermuseum.ca Small admission fee; admission by donation on Wednesdays Super 8 Motels Ph: 204-623-1888 or 1-800-800-8000 Fax: 204-623-4488 www.super8.com Indoor pool/waterslide, free breakfast, computer ports, conference room, WC access The Pas Curling Club Ph: 204-623-3813 www.thepascurlingclub.com The Pas & District Chamber of Commerce Ph: 204-623-7256 Tolko Pulp & Paper Mill Ph: 204-623-8659 Tours during the summer Town of The Pas Ph: 204-627-1100 or 1-866-627-1134 Trappers’ Festival Headquarters Ph: 204-623-2912 Venus Ristorante & Pizzeria Ph: 204-623-6673 Fax: 204-623-3615 Via Rail Canada Inc. Ph: 1-888-842-7245 Weathered Welcomes Ph: 204-623-1764 Wescana Inn Ph: 204-623-5446 Fax: 204-623-3383 wescana@mts.net Full service, dining room, lounge, VLTs, cable TV, sauna, laundry room. CAA approved. WC access Wildlife Adventure Tours Ph: 204-623-6513 Wildlife and birdwatching tours
Thompson A&W Ph: 204-778-6500 Fax: 204-677-9182 www.aw.ca Fast food, burgers, chicken
Adventurers North Dining Room Ph: 204-677-3662
Driftwood Nickel City Taxi Ph: 204-677-6000
Arctic Trading Post Ph: 204-677-2026 Fax: 204-675-2164
Enterprise Rent-A-Car 93 Commercial Place Ph: 204-778-3111
Baaco Pizza Ph: 204-778-4444 Fax: 204-677-8630 Lounge, pizza/pasta
Flight Aviation Services Ph: 204-677-4920 Fax: 204-778-5917 Airport
Bankside Bar & Billiards Ph: 204-677-0101 Fax: 204-677-0103
Grapes Grill & Bar Ph: 204-677-3333
Boston Pizza Ph: 204-677-0111 Fax: 204-677-4411 doic@bostonpizza.com Burntwood Curling Club Ph: 204-677-2580 Calm Air International LP Ph: 204-778-6471 or 1-800-839-2256 Fax: 204-778-6954 www.calmair.com Charters, air service in Manitoba/Nunavut Chicken Chef Ph: 204-677-2331 Fax: 204-778-6499 www.chickenchef.com/ index.html Family restaurant Chicken Delight Ph: 204-677-2692 www.chickendelight.com Fast food, chicken City of Thompson Ph: 204-677-7910 www.thompson.ca City of Thompson Recreation Centre Ph: 204-677-7952 Cliff’s Taxi Ph: 204-677-2543 Club Fire & Ice Burntwood Inn Ph: 204-677-4551 Fax: 204-778-6219 Corner Deli Ph: 204-677-3997 Fax: 204-778-5145 Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Ph: 204-778-8879 Fax: 204-677-3225 www.countryinns.com Suites, indoor pool, pets allowed Culture, Heritage & Tourism Ph: 204-677-6780 Fax: 204-677-6862 Custom Helicopters Ltd. Ph: 204-677-3720 Days Inn & Suites Ph: 204-778-6000 or 1-800-DAYS-INN Fax: 204-778-6999 www.daysinnthompson.com
Huskie Travel Ph: 204-677-0777 Ilios Restaurant & Lounge Ph: 204-778-4332 Interior Inn Ph: 204-778-5535 Fax: 204-778-6658 54 rooms, queen-size beds, doubles, suites, coffee, cable, Internet access, fridge/ microwave available Grey Goose Ph: 204-677-0360 Fax: 204-677-0370 www.greyhound.ca Bus charters, regular bus service Hanson’s Bear Creek Outfitters Ph: 204-778-5037 Heritage North Museum Inc. Ph: 204-677-2216 Fax: 204-677-8953 hnmuseum@mts.net Hub of the North Ph: 204-778-5630 Fax: 204-778-7897 Full-service restaurant/lounge, Greek, lunch/dinner Hudson Bay Railway Ph: 204-778-6253 J-Del Aviation Ph: 204-677-2337 Fax: 204-677-5794 KFC Ph: 204-677-4664 Fax: 204-778-4069 www.kfc.com Fast food, chicken Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Centre Ph: 204-677-0950 Fax: 204-677-0970 www.mamowwetak.mb.ca Hostel, aboriginal services, kitchen-restaurant McCreedy Park Ph: 204-778-8810 Camping & RV storage McDonald’s Restaurants Ph: 204-778-7779 Fax: 204-778-6101 bigfry@mts.net www.mcdonalds.ca Fast food, burger chain Meat Eater Deli Ph: 204-778-7726 Fax: 204-778-8683
Meridian Hotel Ph: 204-778-8387 Fax: 204-677-4087 www.thompsonmb.com/ hotels/meridian.htm Free parking, rooms with or without meal plan, 41 modern rooms Millennium Trail Ph: 204-677-7952 rec@city.thompson.mb.ca www.thompson.ca/dbs/ millenniumtrail Also recreation, parks and culture Multiculture Centre Ph: 204-677-3981 Fax: 204-677-3980 Mystery Country Lodge & Outposts Ph: 1-888-246-9749 www.mysterycountryoutposts.com Mystery Lake Motor Hotel Ph: 204-778-8331 Fax: 204-778-4193 Bar, microwaves, VCRs, laundry room, and exercise room Mystery Mountain Winter Park Ph: 204-778-8624 info@mysterymountain.ca www.mysterymountain.ca Ski hill, rentals, lessons, x-country, snowtubing, chalet National Car Rental 40 Station Road Ph: 204-677-2312 NC Crossroad Lanes Ph: 204-677-4415 Norplex Swimming Pool Ph: 204-677-7963 North Knife Lake Lodge 1-888-WEBBERS www.webberslodges.com remote fly-in fishing packages North Star Taxi Ph: 204-778-3333 Northern Flavours Coffee House Ph: 204-677-8281 Northern Inn & Steak House Ph: 204-778-6481 Fax: 204-778-7601 Northern Lights Bed & Breakfast Ph: 204-677-4111 Fax: 204-677-8027 nlights@mts.net www.mts.net/~nlights 7 rooms, 2 common rooms, 2 kitchens Oxie’s Ph: 204-677-3711 Paint Lake Provincial Park Ph: 1-888-482-2267 Campground, beach
Paint Lake Resort & Marina Ph: 204-677-9303 Fax: 204-677-5573 Cabins, restaurant, bar, patio, boat launch Perimeter Aviation Ph: 204-778-5924 Airport Pizza Hut Ph: 204-677-7888 www.pizzahut.com Pizza, lunch buffet Popeyes Ph: 204-677-5575 Homemade burgers/fries. Seasonal business Poseidon Restaurant Ph: 204-677-2558 Greek Precambrian Art Centre Ph: 204-677-1940 mcarroll@digistar.mb.ca Ramada Burntwood Inn Ph: 204-677-4551 Fax: 204-778-6219 www.ramada.com/Ramada/ control/home Indoor pool/waterslide, whirlpool suites, hot tub, newly renovated, lounge Riverview Restaurant Ph: 204-677-2525 Roadside Restaurant Ph: 204-778-7172 Robin’s Donuts Ph: 204-677-4444 Santa Maria Pizza & Spaghetti House Ph: 204-778-7331 Take out, delivery Sasagiu Rapids Lodge Ph: 204-677-9351 Conference facilities, wheelchair accessible, out-post camps, guides, hunting, fishing Shinook’s Bed & Breakfast Ph: 204-677-3563 Strand Theatre Ph: 204-677-8301 Subway Ph: 204-677-2222 Fax: 204-677-2222 www.subway.com Fast food, subs, sandwiches, soup Thompson Cabs (1987) Ltd. Ph: 204-677-6262 Thompson Chamber of Commerce Ph: 204-677-4155 or 1-888-307-0103 Fax: 204-677-3434 commerce@mts.net www.thompsonchamber.mb.ca Tourism information Thompson Golf Club Ph: 204-677-3250
Issue 2 • 2011 • Manitoba’s Northern Experience
63
LISTINGS Thompson Golf Course Ph: 204-778-5537 Thompson Inn Ph: 204-677-2371 Fax: 204-778-8442 tinn@mts.net Cable TV, queen-size beds, a/c, 35 newly renovated rooms Thompson Lanes Ltd. Ph: 204-677-3005 Fax: 204-778-6866
Venture Air Ph: 204-778-8225 Fax: 204-778-8243
Index to Advertisers
Via Rail Canada Ph: 204-677-2241 or 1-888-842-7245 www.viarail.ca Train service in Manitoba Wawatay Inn Ph: 204-677-1000
Thompson Zoo Ph: 204-677-7982 www.thompson.ca Free admission
Webber’s Lodges/Dymond Lake Outfitters Ph: 204-377-5090 1-888-WEBBERS info@webberslodges.com www.webberslodges.com remote fly-in fishing and hunting packages
Tim Hortons Ph: 204-677-8467
Wong’s Asian Bistro Ph: 204-778-8880
Thompson Ski Club Inc. Ph: 204-778-8624
Tom’s Restaurant & Pizza Place Ph: 204-677-1999 Trappers Tavern Ph: 204-778-8331
Wonton Place Ph: 204-778-5578 Fax: 204-778-6648 Chinese food YWCA of Thompson Ph: 204-778-6341 Fax: 204-778-5308 ywca@mts.net www.ywcacanada.ca Women’s shelter
Twilight Water Ski Club Ph: 204-778-6301 Vale Inco Ph: 204-778-2326 valeinco@valeinco.com
Please let us know of any new additions or corrections. Contact the NorMan Regional Development Corp. at 1-800-665-4774 or info@nrdc.ca
Explore the rich heritage of the Town of The Pas on the banks of the historic Saskatchewan River. Experience the eclectic collection of Mr. Sam Waller. 306 Fischer Avenue The Pas Manitoba Open daily 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Summer hours 10:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m. Historic Walking Tours available Web: www.samwallermuseum.ca Phone: 623-3802
P.O. Box 1030, Churchill, Manitoba R0B 0E0
Email: aurorain@mts.net Phone: 204-675-2071 Fax: 204-675-2850 Reservations Toll Free: 1-888-840-1344
www.aurora-inn.mb.ca
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Norman RDC • 1-800-665-4774
Manitoba Star Attraction
Assiniboine Community College. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 The Aurora Inn, Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Calm Air International LP. . . . . . . . . . . Outside Back Cover Campus Manitoba. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Cook & Cooke Insurance Brokers. . . . . . Inside Back Cover Copper Reef Mining Corporation . . . . . . Inside Front Cover Eyaa-Keen Healing Centre, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 First Peoples Economic Growth Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Hayles GeoScience Surveys Ltd.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 HudBay Minerals Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Hugh Munro Construction Ltd.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Keewatin Air LP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Lakeview Management Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Loan Express . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Manitoba Hydro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Meetah Building Supplies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 N.C. Crossroad Lanes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Nickel City Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Nueltin Fly-In Lodges, Ltd.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Mystery Country’s Paint Lake Resort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education & Training Institute. . . . 41 Paskwayak Business Development Corp. Ltd. / Otineka Mall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Red River College. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 rePlan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Rick’s Island Lake Lodge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Sam Waller Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Sasa-Ginni-Gak Lodge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 St. John’s-Ravenscourt School. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 The Standard Resort Insurance Program. . Inside Back Cover Stittco Energy Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Super 8 Motel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Super Thrifty Drugs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Thompson Unlimited – Thompson’s Economic Development Corp.. . . . . . . . . 36 Thompson YWCA Residence Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Town of Gillam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Town of Leaf Rapids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Town of Lynn Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Town of Snow Lake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Town of the Pas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 University College of the North. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 USW Local 6166. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Vale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Walmart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Wescana Inn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Wings Over Kississing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Celebrating 22 Years Insuring Canada’s Resorts, Guides & Outfitters
The Standard Resort Insurance Program Canada’s #1 Insurance Program For Resorts, Guides, Outfitters & Campgrounds
Program Coverage • Property • Liability • Crime • Loss of earnings • Watercraft *Optional Coverage Available*
Special Program For Small Outfitters & Guides
For more information call: Cliff Cook / Curtis Cook
Kent Cook
P: 1-888-979-2665
P: 1-204-623-5411
P: 1-204-734-9421
F: 1-204-623-3845
F: 1-204-734-5083
The Pas, MB R9A 1K6
Swan River, MB R0L 1Z0
We Know Resort Insurance!
www.cookandcooke.com