The party may have been over and the dignitaries were already long gone, but members of Flin Flon’s city council were still buzzing over the Governor General and Manitoba Lieutenant Governor visits at a recent meeting.
At the council’s Oct. 1 meet-up, councillors shared their experiences and thoughts on the appearance of two of the Queen’s top representatives in Canada. Both Governor General Julie Payette and Manitoba Lieutenant Governor Janice Filmon, joined by Filmon’s husband and former Manitoba premier Gary, came to Flin Flon late last month and took part in a number of local events and activities.
Councillor Ken Pawlachuk was part of the Lieutenant Governor’s entourage for the trip, serving as a driver, city liaison and tour guide during their trip. Pawlachuk gave council a report of the trip, which included a sojourn to Cranberry Portage.
“They were just gracious people. I think out of anybody who talked with them, I don't think there was anybody more positive. It was amazing that the little city of Flin Flon and northern Manitoba could have the lieutenant governor come,” he said, before thanking City officials, volunteers, musicians, work crews and community sponsors for helping the trip go smoothly.
“It was amazing, the positive attitude. The Governor General and the Lieutenant Governor both saw that, the hard working people here and the positive attitude. There’s a mine possibly closing in a couple of years and that was not on everybody’s mind.”
Mayor Cal Huntley also voiced his thanks and pleasure with the visit.
“It was amazing to have two such prestigious guests in our community and certainly, the way our community reacted made me a proud mayor,” he said.
“My granddaughter got to paddle with the Governor General and she was very, very excited about that. She did the boardwalk walk too, it was just a great weekend.”
Shortly after the visit to Flin Flon, Filmon began treatment for breast cancer in Winnipeg. Huntley relayed a message of support from council.
“Our thoughts, from the whole community, are certainly with her and we hope her recovery is going 100 per cent,” he said.
Aqua Centre
Frequent users of the Flin Flon Aqua Centre will be seeing someone new running the pool.
Nicole Hartman, the City of Flin Flon’s recreation manager, introduced April Dayton as a new supervisor of the centre.
“We’re excited to have her on board,” Hartman said.
Dayton was born and raised in Flin Flon and worked for almost two decades in the community as a paramedic.
“This is a new chapter and I’m excited to learn and be a part of this group,” Dayton said.
