The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Question: I support council's sponsorship of the Bombers. I am wondering if there is more that could be done for them, such as charging the team a nominal fee of $1 to use the Whitney Forum each game? It might hurt city revenues but ensuring the Bombers' continued survival matters. Mayor Therien: I agree with you regarding council's support of the Bombers. The hockey team, no matter what league it was in, has always put Flin Flon on the map. Those who have put on the Bomber sweater, both past and present, have always been great ambassadors for Flin Flon and, as such, the term "once a Bomber, always a Bomber" has great meaning. I grew up not that far from the Winnipeg Arena and used to go quite often to see the Junior Jets, no matter who they played, but my favourite opponent was always the Bombers (with Clarke, Leach, et al.). I was only 10 and had no idea where Flin Flon was, but I knew who the Bombers were. Prior to my moving here, I used to audit the Co-op. The first time I got to do that, I had to go see the Whitney Forum. You could feel the history as well as see it on the walls, etc. I am really quite proud of all that has been done to try and preserve the rich history of the Flin Flon Bombers. Besides the sponsorship dollars that we approve, what you do not see is that the team is not charged for any of their practice time, and this adds up throughout the year. At this stage of the game, this is about as far as the majority of council would be willing to go. In all fairness, this does amount to a substantial contribution by council. * * * Question: Why does someone get involved in municipal politics? Mayor Therien: This is a question I get asked a lot from those I know here and abroad. I can only tell you why I got involved and that is the love I have for Flin Flon. I may not have been lucky enough to have been born here, but I am very proud to say I am from Flin Flon. No matter where I have lived, I have always gotten involved with the community. When I first came to live in Flin Flon in November 1989, I went to a Bomber game and the referee was someone I played hockey with when I lived in Saskatoon. After the game, we went to the lounge at (a local establishment) for a couple of beverages, as did some of the members of the Bomber executive. My friend suggested I get involved with the team and, as they say, the rest is history. It was my father who suggested I run for council when he came for a visit from Winnipeg. He knew I liked getting involved and he knew I liked politics. That was 14-plus years ago. I enjoy municipal politics as it is really the truest, purist form of politics we have in this country. Unless, you are on council in a large city, there are no party politics being practiced. Your decisions are not dictated to you by which political party you belong to. When you are in the provincial or federal arena, there is different set of rules, and that is all right. When you are in the municipal arena, YOU get to make decisions that, hopefully, are in the best interest of the community you live in. * * * Send your questions for Mayor Therien to The Reminder by phone at 687-3454, fax at 687-4473, e-mail at [email protected] or standard delivery at "Ask the Mayor," C/O The Reminder, 14 North Avenue, Flin Flon, R8A 0T2. Ask the Mayor runs Mondays.
