Hours away from returning home to Flin Flon
THE PAS — Residents of Flin Flon, who are itching to go home Wednesday after nearly a month-long evacuation owing to a ferocious wildfire, waited it out in this community 200 kilometres to the south Tuesday.
Sitting in his idling Ford 150 at the Wescana Inn on Fischer Avenue, Bob Hughes is priming his truck's battery for what is sure to be a long trip home.
The drive to Flin Flon usually takes Hughes about an hour and a half, but he estimates with the caravan of people vying to get home once the evacuation order is lifted at 9 a.m., he might be stuck in traffic for three hours.
Hughes said he has been having dreams at night about returning to his home, which he was forced out of on May 27.
'I dream I'm driving up the hill to my place and its nighttime. I get excited and there's no one else around. Then I pull into my driveway and I see snow everywhere. Snow is what killed the fire and I get excited all over again,' he says.
Hughes plans to leave as early as he can wake up, brush his hair, eat a quick breakfast and lock the door to his motel room.
The motel's food is good and staff are accommodating to evacuees, but Hughes is in desperate need of a shower in his own quarters.
Due to mobility issues Hughes, 67, can't climb into his room's tub and hasn't been able to properly bathe himself.
'That's gonna be real nice,' he said.
The retiree resigned himself to knowing there would be dead house plants and a yard full of dandelions awaiting his return in Flin Flon, but his home is still standing so he considers himself luckier than residents of nearby Creighton and Denare Beach, Sask. The communities suffered heavy losses from the same fire which threatened Flin Flon.
'The garbage will be ripe, but that I can handle,' he said with a laugh.
A few blocks away, at the Esso gas station on Gordon Avenue, Islam Salem is prepping the store for an onslaught of commuters eager to get home Wednesday morning.
The shelves are filled with phone chargers, a valuable commodity many evacuees forgot to pack, as well as water bottles.
This time around, Salem hopes there's enough fuel to get everyone home.
Wednesdays
A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom.
'Everyone will be in a panic, so yeah, it will be busy for sure,' he said Tuesday afternoon.
Salem, 35, moved to The Pas from Egypt only seven months ago and has already learned a valuable lesson in preparing for future emergencies.
When the wildfire crept closer to town, Salem packed a bag and now has it at the ready in case of an emergency.
'I learned how to manage myself, my things, in case any wildfire happened,' he said. 'I just learned from the situation.'
— Nicole Buffie
Nicole BuffieMultimedia producer
Nicole Buffie is a multimedia producer who reports for the Free Press city desk. Born and bred in Winnipeg, Nicole graduated from Red River College's Creative Communications program in 2020 and worked as a reporter throughout Manitoba before joining the Free Press newsroom in 2023. Read more about Nicole.
Every piece of reporting Nicole produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Hours away from returning home to Flin Flon
THE PAS — Residents of Flin Flon, who are itching to go home Wednesday after nearly a month-long evacuation owing to a ferocious wildfire, waited it out in this community 200 kilometres to the south Tuesday. Sitting in his idling Ford 150 at the Wescana Inn on Fischer Avenue, Bob Hughes is priming his truck's battery for what is sure to be a long trip home. The drive to Flin Flon usually takes Hughes about an hour and a half, but he estimates with the caravan of people vying to get home once the evacuation order is lifted at 9 a.m., he might be stuck in traffic for three hours. Hughes said he has been having dreams at night about returning to his home, which he was forced out of on May 27. 'I dream I'm driving up the hill to my place and its nighttime. I get excited and there's no one else around. Then I pull into my driveway and I see snow everywhere. Snow is what killed the fire and I get excited all over again,' he says. Hughes plans to leave as early as he can wake up, brush his hair, eat a quick breakfast and lock the door to his motel room. The motel's food is good and staff are accommodating to evacuees, but Hughes is in desperate need of a shower in his own quarters. Due to mobility issues Hughes, 67, can't climb into his room's tub and hasn't been able to properly bathe himself. 'That's gonna be real nice,' he said. The retiree resigned himself to knowing there would be dead house plants and a yard full of dandelions awaiting his return in Flin Flon, but his home is still standing so he considers himself luckier than residents of nearby Creighton and Denare Beach, Sask. The communities suffered heavy losses from the same fire which threatened Flin Flon. 'The garbage will be ripe, but that I can handle,' he said with a laugh. A few blocks away, at the Esso gas station on Gordon Avenue, Islam Salem is prepping the store for an onslaught of commuters eager to get home Wednesday morning. The shelves are filled with phone chargers, a valuable commodity many evacuees forgot to pack, as well as water bottles. This time around, Salem hopes there's enough fuel to get everyone home. Wednesdays A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom. 'Everyone will be in a panic, so yeah, it will be busy for sure,' he said Tuesday afternoon. Salem, 35, moved to The Pas from Egypt only seven months ago and has already learned a valuable lesson in preparing for future emergencies. When the wildfire crept closer to town, Salem packed a bag and now has it at the ready in case of an emergency. 'I learned how to manage myself, my things, in case any wildfire happened,' he said. 'I just learned from the situation.' — Nicole Buffie Nicole BuffieMultimedia producer Nicole Buffie is a multimedia producer who reports for the Free Press city desk. Born and bred in Winnipeg, Nicole graduated from Red River College's Creative Communications program in 2020 and worked as a reporter throughout Manitoba before joining the Free Press newsroom in 2023. Read more about Nicole. Every piece of reporting Nicole produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
07-06-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Yay for T-Bay!
Peering out our Thunder Bay waterfront hotel window, I exclaimed, 'There's a big guy sleeping out here! No. Maybe he's dead!' Margie rushed to see, imploring 'Where?' I pointed to Lake Superior's famous landform — The Sleeping Giant. photos by Gord Mackintosh / Free Press Even perfect sunrises don't awaken the Sleeping Giant. 'I fell for that!?' she growled. We drove from Winnipeg to Thunder Bay this April. After many kilometres of moose pasture east of Dryden — we counted 22 moose 'Night Danger' signs — the Nor'Wester Mountains rise ahead. The flat-topped range impresses with myriad shapes and sheer cliffs. To Prairie drivers, it's the Rockies in half the time. Kakabeka Falls then stuns. To Prairie drivers, it's Niagara Falls in one-third the time. Upstream spruce bogs infuse its roaring golden waters. In April, enjoy the bonus of ice-packed canyon walls — and no park fees. After May 9, walk in backwards. Wait — that might not go well here. Thunder Bay's Current River rushes violently. To witness kilometre-long rapids, carefully follow Cascades Conservation Area's Yellow Trail. You've wrongly meandered onto the Green Trail if the rapids' rumbling becomes fainter — duh, Gord. Downstream, Trowbridge Falls surges. Unlike mid-July camping memories of lazing in these rapids, spring runoff would sweep me and my koozie down to Boulevard Lake's beach. Below Boulevard's dam, glittering cascades enthrall. Folks fish from urban rivers. Off Central Avenue, I asked a fisher casting in the McIntyre River, 'Whatcha fishin' for? Old rubbers?' The surprising reply: 'Steelhead trout.' I told Margie, 'They fish those with magnets.' Golden waters roar at Kakabeka Falls. Thunder Bay lies on the world's biggest freshwater lake. Despite grand vistas with spectacular sunrises, Superior's lakefront has been crowded with trains, grain elevators and industry. Even the ol' Sea-Vue Motel backs onto Maki's Diesel Repair. But now behold lakeside marinas, walkways, public art. A waterfront art gallery opens soon. Moreover, the new eight-storey Delta hopefully signals the arrival of modern, full-service, shoreline hotels. Room numbers ending in 01, 02 or 04 offer 'Superior' views. Drive east to reflect at the Terry Fox Monument and vista. Westward, pay $10 for the drive-up view from Mount McKay. The Best Western Nor'Wester provides mountain views from even-numbered suites. Better yet, dine with a panorama at The Neebing Roadhouse. The McIntyre River brings steelhead trout into the city. Try yummy Neebing Firebombs. Then cruise into the mountain-framed Slate River Valley for Thunder Oak Cheese Farm curds. Exclaim, 'No whey!' Thunder Bay offers three unusual regional dishes: Finnish pancakes, Coney burgers and Persians. Among Finn pancake eateries, we chose, yes, Kangas Sauna. With 18 sauna rooms for rent, the restaurant section attracts chatty folks, including a snoopy couple arguing about what's best: pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream, or with syrup and bacon. But it's not as if we were yelling. Our friendly server delivered a pun, likely unwittingly. Seeing my almost-devoured layer of four crepe-like pancakes, she asked, 'You gonna Finnish it some more?' Coney burgers mean toppings of meat chili, mustard and onions. Among several joints, we adored these darlings at Westfort's Coney Island and the misnamed McKellar Confectionery. There, gregarious owner George Kelos reminded me that meat chili burgers migrated from this city to Winnipeg where, with more toppings added by the Scouras brothers, Manitoba's iconic Fat Boy emerged. Persians are fried dough with subtly baked-in cinnamon covered in pink frosting. At Holland Bakery, a fellow seeking Persians at 10:30 a.m. was told, 'Sold out!' He replied, 'Ya gotta be quick with Persians!' At The Persian Man, I asked owner Danny Nucci, 'What's your frosting recipe? Raspberry or strawberry and what?' Danny merrily replied, 'If I tell you, I have to kill you.' I said, 'See ya!' A pal later deduced, 'It tastes pinky.' Mount McKay, or Animiki-wajiw (Thunder Mountain), looms over Thunder Bay. I joyously devoured The Sweet North Bakery's Persian frosting-stuffed cruffin (a croissant-muffin mix), licked Merla Mae's Persian ice cream, and sipped Dawson Trail Brewery's Persian-inspired ale. Seeing Sleeping Giant Brewing's huge beer bottle display, I asked, 'How many bottles of beer on the wall?' Staff wisecracked, 'No idea. You might wanna count 'em!' We couldn't spare the afternoon, but thankfully bought its Beaver Duck Session IPA. A beaver duck is a beaver donning a duck hat with handy straps. Thunder Bay delivers more bewilderment. Many street names change while you're driving — one eight times. Winnipeg Avenue boasts four separate sections. And at several major crossroads, street name signs are missing. That's when Margie asked, 'What's this 'Map' function on our dashboard?' The Holiday Inn Motel is unrelated to the lodging chain. Don't expect nips at The Sal. Plus, Thunder Bay 'nips' are gravy-covered burgers. 'Socials' are 'shags.' 'Backpacks' are 'pack sacks.' 'Cottages' are 'camps.' For shopping, local vendors cram Country Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and Goods and Co. from Wednesday to Sunday. And Fort William First Nation sells gas up to 27 cents a litre cheaper. K&A Variety has 32 pumps! Inside, cashiers bark out pump numbers. Yell, 'Bingo!' To get there, navigate the super-skinny James Street Swing Bridge. Margie almost touched its sides. This must be a dream for local auto shops. Hey — should they have names like Half-Way Motors? Mid City Collision? Gore Motors? GORD MACKINTOSH / FREE PRESS Likely a half-hour's supply of Persians at The Persian Man. And then there's Dusty's Car Care. As for the Sleeping Giant, Delta staff assured, 'Someday, maybe he'll wake up!' Don't miss it. gordmackintosh9@
Winnipeg Free Press
06-06-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Manitoba to pay for students to travel to war sites in Europe
The Manitoba government is sending high school students to Juno Beach and other historic battlfields to increase their awareness about the world wars. Premier Wab Kinew and Tracy Schmidt, minister of kindergarten-to-Grade 12 learning, announced Friday they had approved a new fund to help students travel overseas. 'Learning the lessons of history and honouring the sacrifices made by Canadians before us is a key element of understanding and upholding human rights, diversity and inclusion in our province,' Kinew said in a news release. A small Canadian flag is seen on Juno Beach on the 75th anniversary of D-Day in Courseulles-Sur-Mer, France in 2019. (Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press files) A total of $200,000 has been earmarked for the first year of the multi-year pilot of immersive and international field trips. Grade 11 and 12 students from Winnipeg, Brandon and Frontier school divisions have been invited to participate in the inaugural trip. A group of 25 students and chaperones from four schools are scheduled to visit multiple sites, including Vimy Ridge (Vimy, France), Juno Beach (Normandy, France) and In Flanders Fields Museum (Ypres, Belgium), in November. The participants hail from Sisler and Churchill in Winnipeg, Crocus Plains in Brandon and Helen Betty Osborne Ininiw Education Resource Centre in Norway House. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. Kinew hinted about the initiative in his throne speech Nov. 19, opening the second session of the 43rd legislature. Maggie MacintoshEducation reporter Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Free Press. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., she first reported for the Free Press in 2017. Read more about Maggie. Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative. Every piece of reporting Maggie produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
