Thompson, Manitoba
Encyclopedia
Thompson is a city in northern Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. As the "Hub of the North" it serves as the regional trade and service centre of northern Manitoba. Thompson is located 830 km (515.7 mi) north of the Canada – United States border, 739 km (459.2 mi) north of the provincial
Provinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
capital of Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, and is 396 km (246.1 mi) northeast of Flin Flon
Flin Flon
Flin Flon is a Canadian mining city located on the border of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, with the majority of the city located within Manitoba.- Founding :...
. It has a population of 13,256 residents, which also serves as a trade centre for an additional 36,000 - 65,000 Manitobans. As such, it has all of the services and amenities that would be expected in a much larger, urban centre.
History
The Thompson area was first inhabited by nomadic Paleo-Indian hunters 6000 B.C. Europeans conducted a federal geological survey in Thompson in 1896.The modern history of Thompson began in 1956 when on February 4, a major ore
Ore
An ore is a type of rock that contains minerals with important elements including metals. The ores are extracted through mining; these are then refined to extract the valuable element....
body was discovered by use of an airborne electromagnetometer following ten years of mining exploration in the region. The community was founded in 1957 following an agreement with the Government of Manitoba
Politics of Manitoba
Like all Canadian provinces, Manitoba is governed by a unicameral legislature, the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. The executive branch is formed by the majority party; the party leader is the Premier of Manitoba, the head of the executive branch...
and Inco Limited. Thompson is planned community and is named after Inco's chairman, John F. Thompson. The population has been estimated as high as 26,000 residents prior to the recession in the 1970s. The 1957 agreement required that Inco provide financial assistance towards the Kelsey Generating System, and a spur line to connect the community with C.N
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
's Bay Line near Thicket Portage. Thompson was incorporated as a town in 1967 on Canada's Centennial Anniversary, and in 1970 as a city in the royal presence of Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
, having reached a population of 20,000. A decline in population occurred during the following decades, levelling off around 14,000 people. Thompson came to be known as "The Hub of the North", as it functions as a centre for politics and commerce in the region.
Mining
Its most prominent local industry is the miningMining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
, milling
Mill (grinding)
A grinding mill is a unit operation designed to break a solid material into smaller pieces. There are many different types of grinding mills and many types of materials processed in them. Historically mills were powered by hand , working animal , wind or water...
, smelting
Smelting
Smelting is a form of extractive metallurgy; its main use is to produce a metal from its ore. This includes iron extraction from iron ore, and copper extraction and other base metals from their ores...
and refining
Refining
Refining is the process of purification of a substance or a form. The term is usually used of a natural resource that is almost in a usable form, but which is more useful in its pure form. For instance, most types of natural petroleum will burn straight from the ground, but it will burn poorly...
of nickel
Nickel
Nickel is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Nickel belongs to the transition metals and is hard and ductile...
, with additional nickel concentrates coming from Voisey's Bay
Voisey's Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador
Voisey's Bay Mine is a nickel mine in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, near the bay of the same name.- Nickel deposit :A large nickel deposit was discovered in hills along the western shore of the bay in September 1993 by Archean Inc., a prospecting firm hired by Diamond Fields...
, Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
.
Aside from Vale Inco Ltd; Manitoba Hydro, Calm Air
Calm Air
Calm Air International LP. is an airline based in Thompson, Manitoba, Canada and is presently owned by the Exchange Income Corporation. It operates services in northern Manitoba and the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut. Charter and freight services are also undertaken. Its main base is Thompson Airport.-...
, MTS and the provincial government employ the majority of the people in Thompson. A large portion are teachers and entrepreneurs as well.
Many federal and provincial government agencies have offices in Thompson. Thompson has a large retail sector, providing such things as clothing for all ages, a pet store, jewelry stores, travel agencies, vehicle dealerships, and grocery stores. Calm Air Airlines and Perimeter Aviation provide direct service between Winnipeg and Thompson. There has been intermittent jet service to Thompson, with the runway at the Thompson Airport able to accommodate a Boeing 737. No carrier has been able to supply long term jet service with both West Jet and Kanata, Ontario's First Air
First Air
Bradley Air Services Limited, operating as First Air, is an airline headquartered in Kanata, Ontario, Canada. It operates services to 30 communities in Nunavut, Nunavik, and the Northwest Territories. The majority of its fleet is available for charters worldwide...
being unsuccessful at long term operations.
Transportation
Thompson TransitThompson Transit
Thompson Transit is the public transit agency in Thompson, Manitoba, Canada. The City of Thompson contracts the bus services.-2007-Current:Grey Goose Bus Lines a division of Greyhound Canada acquired by First Group-Services:...
is the public transit service operated for the city by Grey Goose Bus Lines. VIA Rail provides passenger service at the Thompson railway station
Thompson railway station
The Thompson Railway Station is a stop in Thompson, Manitoba, Canada. The stop is served by Via Rail's Winnipeg – Churchill train. The station is located about 1 km from downtown near the industrial park.- External links :*...
which is on the Hudson Bay Railway
Hudson Bay Railway
Hudson Bay Railway is a Canadian railway operating over of trackage in northern Manitoba.HBRY was formed in July 1997 to purchase former Canadian National Railway trackage running north from CN trackage at The Pas, MB on two branches, one to Flin Flon, MB and on to Lynn Lake, MB, the other to...
.
The city is served by Thompson Airport
Thompson Airport
Thompson Municipal Airport is an airport located north of Thompson, Manitoba, Canada. It is the third busiest airport in Manitoba after Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport and Winnipeg/St...
.
Cold weather testing
Due to Thompson's subarctic climateSubarctic climate
The subarctic climate is a climate characterized by long, usually very cold winters, and short, cool to mild summers. It is found on large landmasses, away from the moderating effects of an ocean, generally at latitudes from 50° to 70°N poleward of the humid continental climates...
, the city has earned a reputation for its cold weather testing conditions. Automobile manufacturers such as Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
, Ford, and Hummer
Hummer
Hummer was a brand of trucks and SUVs, first marketed in 1992 when AM General began selling a civilian version of the M998 Humvee. In 1998, General Motors purchased the brand name and marketed three vehicles: the original Hummer H1, based on the Humvee; and the H2 and H3 models that were...
have tested their vehicles in the winter months in Thompson. In April 2009, the National Research Council of Canada
National Research Council of Canada
The National Research Council is an agency of the Government of Canada which conducts scientific research and development.- History :...
announced that they will be partnering with the newly created Environmental Test Research and Education Center (CanETREC) to create a year round research facility which will specialize in testing aerospace designs in cold conditions.
Global Aerospace Centre for Icing and Environmental Research (GLACIER)
On April 16, 2009 in Thompson by then Premier of Manitoba Gary DoerGary Doer
Gary Albert Doer, OM is a Canadian diplomat and politician from Manitoba, Canada. Since October 19, 2009, he has served as Canada's Ambassador to the United States...
announced an estimated $44 million first phase and a future second phase estimated at $38M project by Rolls-Royce Canada and Pratt & Whitney Canada. On October 30, 2010, held the official opening of the project.
Operated and maintained MDS AeroTest
http://www.mdsaerotest.ca/
Other
A recent economic boom in the community has resulted in a shortage of affordable housingAffordable housing
Affordable housing is a term used to describe dwelling units whose total housing costs are deemed "affordable" to those that have a median income. Although the term is often applied to rental housing that is within the financial means of those in the lower income ranges of a geographical area, the...
. Contributing to the economy are Vale Inco nickel mines and the Wuskwatim generating station project.
Construction of the access road to Wuskwatim began in 2006, and construction of the hydro dam is ongoing with completion planned for 2012.
Climate
Thompson is marked by a subarctic climateSubarctic climate
The subarctic climate is a climate characterized by long, usually very cold winters, and short, cool to mild summers. It is found on large landmasses, away from the moderating effects of an ocean, generally at latitudes from 50° to 70°N poleward of the humid continental climates...
(Köppen Dfc), with long, bitterly cold winters, and short but warm summers. Monthly means range from -25.0 C in January to 15.8 °C (60.4 °F) in July, and the annual mean is -3.2 C. Though a majority of the annual precipitation of 517 millimetres (20.4 in) falls from June to September, winter is by no means devoid of precipitation. Snow falls mainly from October to May, with generally small accumulation in June and September, totaling 186 centimetres (73 in) per year.
Education
The School District of Mystery LakeSchool District of Mystery Lake
The School District of Mystery Lake provides educational services in the city of Thompson, Manitoba at six elementary schools and one high school...
operates six Elementary Schools and one High School:
Deerwood School, Burntwood School, Westwood School, Ecole Riverside School, Juniper School, Wapanohk School (Eastwood) & R. D. Parker Collegiate
R. D. Parker Collegiate
R.D. Parker Collegiate is the only high school in Thompson, Manitoba, and holds grades 9-12 . The approximately 1200 students of R.D. Parker Collegiate come from the city of Thompson and near Northern Communities. The staff of R.D. Parker Collegiate is associated with the Steelworkers and the...
(Thompson High School)
The district offers a K-12 French immersion
French immersion
French immersion is a form of bilingual education in which a child who does not speak French as his or her first language receives instruction in school in French...
program at École Riverside School, and a K-8 education in the Cree language
Cree language
Cree is an Algonquian language spoken by approximately 117,000 people across Canada, from the Northwest Territories and Alberta to Labrador, making it the aboriginal language with the highest number of speakers in Canada. It is also spoken in the U.S. state of Montana...
. This immersion program begins at Wapanohk (formerly Eastwood) Community School. Students can continue the French program at the high school if they completed K-8 at Riverside, and there are basic Cree courses in grades 9-12 offered as well. R.D. Parker Collegiate also offers grade 10 and 11 courses in Native Studies and a grade 12 Native Law course. Full Cree-medium education does not, however, extend to the high school yet.
Since September 2009, the Franco-Manitoban School Division (DSFM) has expanded within Manitoba to include one K-8 elementary school in Thompson, École Communautaire La Voie du Nord. Located within Burntwood School, this district allows children to flourish in French with peers in a Francophone culture.
Although there is some demand for a private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
, Thompson is not home to any at this time.
Thompson is home to one of the two main campuses of the University College of the North
University College of the North
University College of the North is a post-secondary institution located in Northern Manitoba, Canada.UCN has a student body of approximately 2,700 annually, and a staff of approximately 400...
, as well as the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
's Faculty of Social Work branch in the region.
Shopping
Thompson is a major retail service centre for the Northern Manitoba region. The city has three fully enclosed shopping centres, Westwood Mall, Thompson Plaza and the City Centre Mall. In the 1980s, all three malls were fully rented and attracted well-known chains however, more recently they have had difficulty operating fully rented.Spirit Way
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
painted by Charles Johnston, and is a reproduction of Robert Bateman
Robert Bateman (naturalist)
Robert Bateman, OC, OBC is a Canadian naturalist and painter, born in Toronto, Ontario.Bateman was always interested in art, but he never intended on making a living from it. He was fascinated by the natural world in his childhood; he recorded the sightings of all of the birds in the area of his...
's painting "Wolf Sketch" (1990). The 86 feet (26.2 m) x 62 feet (18.9 m) image is the largest photo-real mural in Canada, and sits on the 10 storey Highland Tower apartment block. The building was chosen as it is the most prominent building on Thompson's skyline. The project also includes the Spirit Way wolves, wolf statues painted by various sponsors and placed throughout the walk.
Natural attractions
Pisew Falls Provincial Park
Pisew Falls Provincial Park in Manitoba is located at the approximate mid-point between the small community of Wabowden and the much larger industrial and service centre of Thompson....
. These are Manitoba’s second largest water falls. There is a 0.5 kilometre (0.310686368324903 mi) trail that leads to a viewing platform, perfect for taking pictures of the 13 metres (42.7 ft) high, year round falls. There is also a suspension bridge that spans the lower falls. This is the starting point of a seven-mile (11 km) hike that leads to the highest waterfalls in Manitoba- Kwasitchewan Falls. This trail is a difficult back-country trail, recommended for experienced hikers only.
Located 32 kilometres (19.9 mi) south of Thompson on Highway 6 is Paint Lake Provincial Park. The park spans over 56000 acres (22,662.4 ha) of Precambrian boreal forest and the lake itself is 5 miles (8 km) wide and 25 miles (40.2 km) long. With its numerous islands, enticing waters and rugged forests, Paint Lake offers 76 campsites and has the largest marina in Manitoba. The marina offers fishing guides, cabin, boat and canoe rentals, a restaurant and convenience store. Some features of the park include boat launches, beaches, playgrounds, a volley ball court, baseball diamond and fitness trail. In the winter there are groomed snowmobile trails, ice skating, toboggan runs, ice fishing and ice fishing derbies.
Sports
Thompson is home to the Norman Northstars hockey team. Thompson's minor hockey teams are known as the King Miners.Jennifer Saunders, the current Canadian Women's Racquetball Champion, was born and grew up in Thompson, graduating from R.D. Parker Collegiate in 1994.
The high school teams are called the RD Parker Collegiate Trojans. The Trojans' rivals are the Hapnot Kopper Kings from Flin Flon and the MBCI Spartans from The Pas.
Every year in April, students from the six elementary schools in grades 4-8 compete in the Knights of Columbus Track Meet. Juniper School dominated KoC in the 1990s, and Westwood School has had a winning streak during the 2000s.
Thompson has a large 6-sheet curling rink called the Burntwood Curling Club. The BCC has hosted several zone and provincial competitions.
Thompson also is the birthplace of two NHL players, Curtis Leschyshyn
Curtis Leschyshyn
Curtis Leschyshyn is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Leschyshyn played 1033 games in the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
and Jody Shelley
Jody Shelley
Jody Shelley is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who currently plays for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League...
.
Circuit Court
Thompson is unique in being the judicial centre for a huge geographic area - ranging from Norway HouseNorway House, Manitoba
- Treaty and York Boat Days :Held annually each summer, the York Boat events serve as the main attraction.-External links:* * * *...
in the South to Churchill
Churchill, Manitoba
Churchill is a town on the shore of Hudson Bay in Manitoba, Canada. It is most famous for the many polar bears that move toward the shore from inland in the autumn, leading to the nickname "Polar Bear Capital of the World" that has helped its growing tourism industry.-History:A variety of nomadic...
in the North. The Thompson Judicial district covers 15 circuits and offers both Judicial Justice of the Peace Court as well as Provincial Court sittings. Judges, Judicial Justices of the Peace, Clerks, Crown Attorneys and defence lawyers based in Thompson and Winnipeg regularly travel by small plane on circuit court to various remote communities and First Nation Communities to hold Provinical court.
Bylaws
There was a curfew bylaw (varying depending on age) for people under 18. http://www.thompson.ca/dbs/publicworks/files/Adobe/Curfew.pdf. The bylaw was rescinded after The Public Interest Law Centre and Mr. Ron Dearman filed a challenge to the validity of the Curfew on the basis of sections 15, 7 and 2(d) of the Charter, division of powers and the Municipal Act.http://www.cba.org/Manitoba/About/About/awards.aspxhttp://origin.www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2007/05/02/thompson-curfew.html. In 2007 The City of Thompson contracted with Prairie Bylaw Enforcement to have its officers enforce The City of Thompson's bylaws.http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2007/10/16/thompson-bylaws.htmlDemographics
| Date | Current | Six Month % Change |
One Year % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2010 | 0.3% | ||
| Fall 2009 | 0.1% | ||
| Spring 2009 | 0.2% | 0.0% | |
| Fall 2008 | 0.0% | ||
| Spring 2008 | 0.2% | ||
| Fall 2007 | 2.4% | ||
| n/a | |||
| Spring 2007 | 5.7% | n/a | n/a |
| Source: CMHC - Manitoba Rental Market Reports | |||
| Year | Population | Five Year % change |
Ten Year % change |
Rank Among Manitoba |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | * | * | * | * |
| 1961 | * | * | * | * |
| 1966 | * | * | * | * |
| 1971 | 19,001 | * | * | 3 |
| 1976 | 17,291 | |||
| * | 3 | |||
| 1981 | 14,288 | |||
| 3 | ||||
| 1986 | 14,701 | |||
| 3 | ||||
| 1991 | 14,977 | 3 | ||
| 1996 | 14,385 | |||
| 3 | ||||
| 2001 | 13,256 | |||
| 3 | ||||
| 2006 | 13,446 | |||
| 3 | ||||
Newspaper
The local newspaper, the Thompson CitizenThompson Citizen
The Thompson Citizen is the longest running newspaper in Thompson, Manitoba. Originally started in 1960 by Wellington "Duke" DeCoursey who moved to Thompson from Dauphin, Manitoba, where he published the Central Manitoba News...
, is published on Wednesdays. A free newspaper produced by the same company, the Nickel Belt News, is distributed on Fridays to a wider area than the Citizen, encompassing other communities such as Churchill, Snow Lake, Norway House, Nelson House, Cross Lake, Lynn Lake, and Split Lake. Recently, the Citizen has also become a free publication.
Radio
- AM 610: CHTM (adult contemporary)
- FM 96.3: CINC-FM (NCI)
- FM 99.9: CKSB-5CKSB (AM)CKSB is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 1050 AM and 90.5 FM in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is an affiliate of Radio-Canada's Première Chaîne network.-History:...
(Première Chaîne; repeats CKSB Winnipeg) - FM 100.9: CBWKCBWK-FMCBWK-FM is the callsign of the CBC Radio One station in Thompson, Manitoba. The station broadcasts at FM 100.9.-History:Formerly a rebroadcaster of Winnipeg's CBW, the Thompson station was upgraded to a full CBC production centre in the early 1990s to improve local service in rural northern Manitoba...
(CBC Radio OneCBC Radio OneCBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
)
Television
CBWTT went on the air for the first time on April 1, 1969.All stations serving Thompson are repeaters of Winnipeg-based stations.
- Channel 5: CBWFT-5CBWFTCBWFT is Radio-Canada's French language television station in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is broadcast locally on channel 3 cable 10, and on Bell TV channel 118.-History:...
, Radio-CanadaTélévision de Radio-CanadaTélévision de Radio-Canada is a Canadian French language television network. It is owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, known in French as Société Radio-Canada. Headquarters are at Maison Radio-Canada in Montreal, which is also home to the network's flagship station, CBFT-DT... - Channel 7: CBWTTCBWTCBWT is the CBC's television station in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is the only CBC station in Manitoba, since Brandon's CKX-TV closed on October 2, 2009....
, CBCCBC TelevisionCBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are... - Channel 9: CKYT-TVCKY-TVCKY-DT is a television station based in Winnipeg, Manitoba and owned by Bell Media. It is part of the CTV Television Network....
, CTVCTV television networkCTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
Shaw Communications
Shaw Communications
Shaw Communications is Canada's largest telecommunications company that provides telephone, Canada's fastest Internet and television services as well as broadcasting and soon Wifi. Shaw is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta...
is the local cable television provider serving Thompson, and operates the local Shaw TV
Shaw TV
Shaw TV is a locally-based community channel service operated by cable TV company Shaw Communications, and is available to Shaw Cable subscribers in most major communities throughout western Canada....
channel on cable channel 11.