Heavy equipment has been mobilizing in Deerwood this week to start water and sewer renewal on Deerwood Drive, and contracting crews will start to dig the installation trench on Monday. That means Deerwood Drive is going to be a busy place. Here’s what residents in the area can expect:
A Section of Deerwood Drive Will Be Closed to All Traffic, Including Local Traffic
The first section that will be closed on Monday is the section between 124-148 Deerwood Drive, right on the main curve of the road.
Residents will not be able to access or leave their driveways during these full road closures. Residents who need to use their vehicles will need to park down the street, either on Elk Bay, Martin Bay, Beaver Crescent or Staghorn Drive.
We recognize this is going to be an awkward time for some motorists: as long as everyone parks in a way that’s respectful to their neighbours and fellow motorists, we won’t be issuing tickets to residents in the area.
The area where the road is closed will be moving down the road through the project. Contractors will be communicating these movements to homeowners just before they happen, but you can also tell when the area is about to shift: once the trench is backfilled, you know the closed area is about to be relocated.
Crews will also be working near the Rotary Splash Pad on Monday. In this area, only one lane will be closed to prevent blocking access to multiple streets in the area, though work will proceed a bit slower as a result.
As Areas Are Trenched, Curbs and Driveways May Be Damaged
As trenches are dug, driveways are going to be partially ripped up and damaged. Once construction is complete for the season, all driveways and curbs will be repaired with their original materials: concrete for concrete, asphalt for asphalt, gravel for gravel.
Once a trench is dug and backfilled, the contractor will build ramps or make adjustments to ensure people can still use their driveways safely before they are fully repaired.
Juniper Drive Renewals May Start Tuesday
The construction equipment to begin renewals on Juniper Drive are on their way to Thompson and will begin to mobilize next week as early as Tuesday. However, the water main on Juniper Drive is being replaced through a drilling and pushing process, rather than by a full excavation, meaning road closures and driveway interruptions should be minor and minimal.
For More Information
For more detailed information about the project and upcoming interruptions, you can call our Engineering Technician, Mike Webb, at 204-307-1064.
The City of Thompson is offering residents testing of their tap water for lead, free of charge, for a limited time only.
Why is the City of Thompson testing for lead?
Lead is not natural to Manitoba source waters or found in the water entering distribution systems. Lead is introduced into drinking water through corrosion of lead-based plumbing materials. The impact of corrosive water can only be determined by monitoring tap water quality.
The City of Thompson uses copper or HDPE (plastic) water mains. The water supply is continually tested and results are posted annually on the City of Thompson’s website. The water is consistently safe to drink. However, the City’s water distribution system ends at the private property line. Most residential piping in Thompson is also made from either copper or plastic, but older homes with copper piping sometimes used lead soldering to connect pipes, and this may create elevated lead levels in the water.
Residential lead testing results will give both the City of Thompson and the Office of Drinking Water an idea of whether lead is a broader issue in homes, and whether wider action is necessary.
Is Lead Dangerous?
Lead exposure can effect the health of everyone, but fetuses, infants and young children are the most sensitive to lead exposure. The Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines state that lead concentration in drinking water should not exceed 0.005 mg/L and recommends that child care providers and schools test their drinking water for lead.
How do I request a test?
If you want to get your water tested for lead, you can call one of the two contacts listed at the end of this article before September 15, 2022. Participants will be selected on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you are selected, one of our contacts will let you know how the sample will be collected.
You will receive the results of your test when they are available, and if there are elevated levels of lead in your drinking water, we will give you advice about how you can reduce the lead seeping into your water in your home.
Water discolouration may occur as crews work with water mains and disturb sediment.The discolouration is temporary and can be resolved by flushing your water lines for a minute or two.
It’s capital construction season in the City of Thompson, and contractors have started laying out temporary water hook-ups in the Deerwood area as they prepare for this year’s water and sewer renewal projects on Juniper Drive and Deerwood Drive.
The water main beneath Deerwood Drive will be replaced between it’s intersections between Beaver Crescent to Caribou Crescent, and the water main beneath Juniper Drive will be replaced between it’s intersections with Oak Street and Selkirk Avenue.
Project map describing water and sewer work to be completed in 2022.
The projects will be overseen in collaboration between the City of Thompson and the Manitoba Water Services Board. On the ground, the work will be performed by contractors Accurate HD, who have considerable experience with northern and municipal projects, and have worked in Thompson in the past. Local contractors A&B Builders have been subcontracted to look after the temporary water hook-ups.
Different types of installation will have different impacts on residents
The two water mains will be replaced in two different ways based on the technical needs f the project, and the way that they’ll be installed will have different impacts on residences in the areas.
The water main on Juniper Drive will be “pushed” underground: this means that the contractors will not need to dig out a lot of ground to install it. Traffic closures and water interruptions will be short and infrequent through the project, and temporary water hook-ups will be limited to a handful of houses. It also means there will be less restoration work required after the fact.
The water main under Deerwood needs to be more traditionally excavated through a trench. That does mean that traffic will be interrupted more often, and homes will see some water disruptions, and some homes will need to be hooked up to temporary above-ground water service. It also means that contractors will address restoration work.
Installation May Temporarily Cause Discoloured Water
As crews hook up the above-ground water pipes, they may disturb some of the sediment that normally builds up in water mains and service lines, which may result in yellow discolouration: the same thing happens when our crews flush hydrants every summer.
The discolouration isn’t dangerous, but it’s not pleasant to drink, either. If you’re finding your water is discoloured, running your tap and flushing your lines for a minute or two will usually clear up the issue.
Keeping you up to date: News and Notices
When driveways are blocked or water services are interrupted, the contractor is obligated to inform residents 24-hours prior any interruptions that will last longer than 6 hours. The contractor will deliver these notices door-to-door to affected residences themselves, and will contact the City of Thompson so that we can share the information more broadly.
Along with our website and our social media pages, we’ll also be sharing notices and disruptions through Thompson Connect, sending notifications directly to either your email inbox, SMS, or landline. Sign up and choose your messaging method here: https://www.thompson.ca/p/connect.
Find More Information at Thompson.ca
We’ve created a dedicated Water and Road Renewal page at Thompson.ca where you can find all of the project overviews, FAQ’s, and up-to-date notices regarding construction this summer. You can find it at Thompson.ca > Services > Water and Road Renewal, or under the Quick Links on our front page!
Projects Funded through Investing In Canada’s Infrastructure Program
This year’s capital water and sewer renewal is funded through the Investing in Canada’s Infrastructure Program (ICIP), which will $48 million in federal, provincial, and municipal funding invested in Thompson’s water and sewer infrastructure over the next five years.
The City of Thompson’s leadership had the opportunity to connect with the City of North Battleford at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities annual conference in Regina last week, beginning a new collaboration between the cities to share and develop approaches to public safety and community development.
The City of North Battleford and the City of Thompson are both communities of comparable size: both share similar opportunities that come with being a regional service center, along with the challenges of public safety and social issues that stem from it as well.
The two communities are also in discussions with other small cities facing similar issues to expand their partnerships, bring more ideas to the table, and enhance their collective lobbying power.
“Collaboration is critical for the future of small cities across Canada. More and more Canadians are migrating to larger urban centers, yet the importance of small cities hasn’t diminished,” said Mayor Colleen Smook. “Cities like ours need to work together to make our communities safer, more beautiful, and remind people across the country of the opportunities we offer.”
City of North Battleford Mayor David Gillan, in a press release issued, noted that “a partnership with Thompson, helps both communities to develop leading-edge innovation, to find opportunities, and develop best practices that will substantially enhance our respective capacities. This partnership has the potential to expand the understanding of our communities and create new options and approaches that can make our municipalities even better places to live and prosper.”
The Government of Canada and the Government of Manitoba recognize the important role recreation facilities play in our communities. Investments to build and upgrade community and recreation infrastructure help Manitobans access the services and networks they need to stay connected, share experiences, and build healthy, inclusive, and vibrant communities.
Today, the Honourable Reg Helwer, Minister of Labour, Consumer Protection and Government Services, Her Worship Colleen Smook, Mayor of Thompson, and the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Member of Parliament for Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, announced funding to build a new aquatic facility in the City of Thompson.
This new facility will replace Norplex Pool, which closed in 2019, and will provide the residents of Thompson and the surrounding area with a modern and larger multi-use venue. The facility will consist of two tank pools, including a six-lane pool and another pool featuring a shallow end with beach entry and splash pad. The facility will also include a sauna and space for small gatherings and meetings.
The Government of Canada is investing up to $6 million in this project through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program’s Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream. The Government of Manitoba is funding up to $5 million, and the City of Thompson is contributing approximately $4 million towards eligible costs for the project.
“In collaboration with provincial and municipal partners, our Government invests in infrastructure that help create healthy and inclusive communities. The new City of Thompson Aquatic Facility will make a meaningful difference in the lives of residents and continue to make Thompson a vibrant place to live, work, and raise a family.”
The Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, and Member of Parliament for Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities
“Our government understands the need to invest in critical infrastructure improvements, and our investment in this aquatic facility will help stimulate the economy in Thompson as well as support northern communities as they recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This fine new facility will also improve the quality of life for residents of the Thompson area by providing access to recreation for well-being, which is critical to the creation of healthy communities.”
The Honourable Reg Helwer, Minister of Labour, Consumer Protection and Government Services
“A pool in Thompson is not just for Thompson; it is a regional facility for more than 50,000 people who live and work across northern Manitoba, and we are grateful for the support from our partners in securing this funding. Northerners need a fun and safe way to stay active in the winter, and to learn to respect our waterways. Pools like these also bring our region together, and this announcement is amazing news for the north as a whole.”
Her Worship Colleen Smook, Mayor of Thompson
Quick facts
The Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program is providing $33.5 billion over 11 years for public infrastructure across Canada. Under this program, provinces and territories prioritize and submit projects to Infrastructure Canada for review. To date, the program has approved more than $20 billion for over 4,500 projects in communities across the country.
Over the last three years, $672,485,271 in federal funding has been approved for 97 infrastructure projects in Manitoba, including 14 community, culture and recreation projects.
In Manitoba, the Government of Canada has invested more than $945 million in over 229 infrastructure projects since 2015.
Pool Plans On Display At 102.9 CHTM Trade Show
Mayor, Council, and City staff were at the 102.9 CHTM Trade Show last weekend showing off the latest renderings and overviews of the Thompson Aquatic Centre plans, and you can check them out here below!
The pool will be build next to the TRCC as a separate building where the running track and football field are currently (they will be relocated at a future date). The separate building helps avoid complications with construction and integration with the existing TRCC.
The pool will have similar features to the old Norplex Pool: a 6-lane competition swimming pool, a shallow pool for learning to swim, a water slide, sauna, and multi-purpose room for birthdays and events. The tanks will be separate, so any unfortunate “foulings” will be isolated to one area of the pool.
The tanks will include accessibility ramps to allow pool users who have trouble with stairs and ladders to access the pool easily, critical for programs like physiotherapy and aquacize.
The water slide will have its own dedicated run-out, to ensure kids don’t run into other pool users while exiting the slide.
Prospective municipal election candidate must register with the Senior Election Official (S.E.O.) during the registration period before they may begin to accept contributions, incur expenses, fundraise or borrow money for their campaign.
Please be advised that a general municipal election will be held on October 26, 2022.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Senior Election Official will be receiving candidate registrations:
For the office of Mayor between May 1, 2022 and September 20, 2022;
For the office of Councillor between June 30, 2022 and September 20, 2022;
at Thompson City Hall, 226 Mystery Lake Road, Thompson, Manitoba, by arranging an appointment with the S.E.O. during regular business hours.
To obtain a registration form, and submit a registration, please contact the S.E.O at the telephone number listed below.
Despite all of the challenges, from pandemic delays to volatile commodities, the Thompson Aquatic Centre project is still making steady progress. Here’s the latest in progress towards a new pool in Thompson, from designing the facility to paying for it. Designs are expected to be finalized by the end of the summer, there’s new movement in ICIP’s review process, and an exciting announcement is expected at our Regular Meeting of Council tonight.
Planning and Design
Back in January we released a presentation that showed off the exterior renderings of the pool, the floor plans for the Thompson Aquatic Centre, the chosen location and the grounds as they’re currently planned for landscaping.
We’re now two-thirds through the design of the final project: our development staff have received scale blueprints for the full facility, and are reviewing them for accuracy and consistency.
This is a pretty arduous process, going through the document and drafts line-by-line to ensure all of the components are consistently reflected in the document, so that there’s no design-related surprises once construction starts.
The design team is on-track to have the design plans finalized and ready for tendering by the end of the summer.
Funding
ICIP: still in the running
The big question on everyone’s mind has been the Investing in Canada’s Infrastructure Grant, which would fund the bulk of the aquatic centre’s construction.
In September 2019 the City of Thompson applied for the ICIP grant with high hopes that construction might be funded and started by that summer 2020. However, funding announcements were severely delayed when the pandemic was officially declared in March 2020. Provincial and federal offices shifted their priorities to adjusting to the extended emergency unfolding across the country.
In the meantime, the City continued to make the preparations needed for facility construction: our team applied for additional grants (within the same parameters as the ICIP grant), and received proposals from and hired an engineering firm to design the facility.
In September 2021, the Province of Manitoba released a press release highlighting the first round of recipients of the Recreation stream. The City of Thompson’s Aquatic Centre was not included on the list.
However, the City did not receive notification that it had been rejected, and the province clarified that no project was rejected until such a letter had been sent.
Still, with no concrete indication as to the status of the project, council, administration, and the Swim North pool committee has been considering the possibility of funding the new Aquatic Centre without the ICIP grant.
In December 2021, provincial officials reached out to us to clarify details of our proposal.
The Thompson Aquatic Centre project is now officially listed on the federal government’s webpage as “Under Review”. This wasn’t the case during the first round of announcements.
According to the federal website, the federal government will inform its provincial partners of its decision within 60 days of the application being confirmed as completed.
All ICIP funding is pending project approval. No final decisions have been made.
Swim North: Winter Wonderland
The pandemic severely impacted the fundraising activities that the Swim North committee was able to undertake. However, they were able to revive
During its first year, Winter Wonderland brought in roughly $60, 000 in contributions: $35, 000 was from tickets and gate sales, and $25, 000 from Vale Manitoba Operations in exchange for employees accessing the grounds.
This year, Swim North brought in $17, 000 in gate and ticket sales from Winter Wonderland. It’s less than last year’s sales, to be sure. But then again restrictions were looser this winter, and there was a lot more to do this year.
Don’t worry: council is voting on a much bigger contribution from Vale tonight.
Information available at the 102.9 CHTM Trade Show
The 102.9 CHTM Trade Show is returning for the first time in two years, and a always, the City of Thompson will be there. We’ll have the latest plans and renderings from Stantec for the new facility, information about the process so far and the outlook moving forward, as well as updates about the ICIP projects that have been awarded: our road and water renewals.
Council and administration will also be there in-person to answer your questions!
The team from Sled MB 53 paid a visit to Thompson’s City Hall today to announce that Thompson has been named Manitoba’s first Sled-Friendly Community!
The certification is awarded to safe and accommodating destinations for snowmobilers and helps promote snowmobile tourism in Northern Manitoba.
The Sled Friendly certification program makes participants aware of the unique needs of snowmobilers including factors like having warm-up and washroom facilities available, providing space for snowmobile staging, and ensuring gas, lodging and food are accessible for snowmobilers.
The program also ensures community members are familiar with snowmobile operation legislation and the trails available in their area.
Left to Right: Laura Findlay (Community Futures), Colleen Smook (City of Thompson), Alan McLaughlin (SledMB 53)
“We’re excited to lead the province in earning the Sled-Friendly Community certification. It wouldn’t be possible without the businesses in our community who support snowmobiling, and without our local Thompson Trailbreakers snowmobile club, who help to maintain our local trail network.
Snowmobiling plays a big role in communities across northern Manitoba, and we’re excited to see the certification appear across the region. The best part about snowmobiling in the north is that no matter where you go, you’re welcome here.”
Mayor Colleen Smook, City of Thompson
Thompson has an extensive network of groomed and ungroomed trails connecting local landmarks and other northern communities, with amenities like wood-heated warm-up shacks.
The Sled-Friendly certification is available for both communities as a whole and individual businesses within those communities: many businesses in Thompson have already achieved the Sled-Friendly certification. It’s administered through a partnership between Sled MB 53 and the Manitoba Tourism Education Council. The training is free for for businesses and communities north of the 53rd parallel!
To learn more about Sled MB 53 and the Sled-Friendly program, visit sledmb53.ca!
Located 10 kilometers south of Thompson, Manasan Falls is an iconic vista for snowmobilers in the area.
Have you noticed a change at Thompson.ca? Our website received a big overhaul this week, and it goes well beyond the ol’ look-and-feel facelift. We’ve also reorganized how our content is structured entirely to help make basic information easier to find for residents, and easier for us to keep updated.
So Where Can I Find My Information Now?
Instead of organizing our information by department (with information linked three layers deep), we’ve re-organized information based on the services people need, following the best practices of other communities of similar size. There’s four basic groups to choose from:
Services: The basic services that residents use every day, including Garbage and Recycling, Street Cleaning, Transit, Water and Wastewater, and more.
Visit and Play: Information about parks, trails, skating, the TRCC as a whole, local attractions, and upcoming events.
Business: Information for businesses and prospective entrepreneurs, like our Community Investment Profile, organizations that can help with planning and funding, licensing requirements, and commercial services.
City Hall: The nitty gritty stuff. Council meetings, strategic plans, by-laws, and home of specific initiatives like Reaching Home.
We’re Still Making Improvements
We’re still making small additions and small adjustments, including:
Fixing launch bugs with our new News section;
Updated information for residential construction requirements and property standards;
Uploading more forms and making them available online;
Geotagging maps for our parks, trailheads, and more;
Upgrading our Recreation Department’s booking system for arenas and gyms
Creating a one-stop shop for people seeking recreational info in Thompson.
The Website Doesn’t Look Right When I Load It!
Does the website look all messed up to you? Don’t worry: we had problems when we fired it up first as well. If you’re on thompson.ca often, your browser has probably stored a bunch of information it’s still trying to call on.
If the website doesn’t look right to you, you likely need to clear your browser’s cache. If you don’t know how to do this, follow these steps or give me a shout:
In the top-right-hand corner of most browsers, there’s usually a symbol made up of three dots.
Click on these dots, and a drop-down menu should appear.
Select “Settings”
Most Settings functions have a search bar, at the top or on the side. Search the word “cache”
An option should appear that refers to “clear browser data” or something similar. Click this option.
By default, a few different boxes will be checked. You only need to select the option that is similar to “Cached Images and Files”. If you are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the other options that are available, un-check them to avoid any problems with browsing later.
Click “Clear Data”. Sometimes this takes a moment, but once it’s finished, the website should work!
The City of Thompson is pleased to announce that Vale Canada will be contributing up to $125k towards the purchase of asset management software for city operations.
The software is an essential step towards completing and implementing the City of Thompson’s Asset Management Plan, a long-term strategy to ensure City facilities and equipment operate without undue costs, delays, or interruptions into the future.
“Vale is proud to support the City of Thompson with community development initiatives that strengthen and improve the sustainability of Thompson and the region. Vale recognizes the benefits of an asset management program for efficient long-term planning and knows from experience the importance of integrated operations scheduling for cost savings and sustainable improvement.”
Gary Annett, Head of Manitoba Operations
An asset management program will log all city assets into one database, from buildings and parks to equipment of all shapes and sizes. It will create a central place to manage routine maintenance, work orders. It will also help track the cost of that maintenance over time and work with our existing software to incorporate labour hours and more.
What that means is that staff from different levels and departments will be working with from the same set of information and planning framework, so that they can better understand how their decisions impact the finances and operations of other departments and make more informed long-term decisions.
“Planning for sustainability is a critical issue in Thompson, both for the City and for Vale, and we’ll continue to work together as we make big investments into our future in the north. We need a strong plan to make sure those investments last, and we need the right tools to make good on those plans. A clear and complete database for asset management is central to that success.”
The Northerner 