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.
Are Flin Flon, Creighton and Denare Beach one community or three? Would you believe both. On the one hand, we are basically one larger area, the sum of all three parts. We generally work, shop and play in the same places. People in Creighton don't consider Flin Flonners outsiders, and vice-versa. And when groups work together for the betterment of one community, they often have all three in mind. But let's not forget that each community has its own identity, and proudly so. Each has their own special celebrations to bring residents together; elected councils to do what's right for their constituents; and museums sharing a rich and unique past. Community spirit runs high in the Flin Flon area, but so too does the pride each resident feels toward their individual dot on the map. Creightonites like Creighton, Denare Beachers Denare Beach and Flin Flonners Flin Flon. Which brings us to the provincial border, that imaginary line that so often earns a bad rap. People in government, health care, and business will tell you that life would be much simpler if the border simply disappeared. But for all its difficulties, no one ever seems to mention the positive aspects of the border. Take education. Numerous people from Flin Flon have mapped out a future for themselves by attending Northlands College Ð a proudly Saskatchewan institute Ð in Creighton. They wouldn't have had that opportunity so close to home if we all lived in the same province. The same goes for Creighton residents schooled at Flin Flon's University College of the North or Campus Manitoba programs. The border has also generated interesting ideas for tourism. "Come to Flin Flon, Manitoba-Creighton, Saskatchewan and enjoy the best of both provinces," might be one slogan worth investigating. In a similar vein, there was once talk of painting a line across the road to mark the border, providing visitors with a great photo-op Ð "Look, Ma! One foot in Manitoba, the other in Saskatchewan!" It's not exactly the CN Tower, but it is something different this area can offer. In the coming years, the border will no doubt spawn further challenges and opportunities. For better and for worse, that's going to be the reality of life in this one community and three communities known as Flin Flon, Creighton and Denare Beach. One More Thing... With Monday marking the third anniversary of the Iraq war, I find myself thinking back to our community's own pre-war peace rally held about a month before the tanks rolled in. I'm neither going to condone nor dispute the protesters' message, but I sure did admire their willingness to stand up for what they believe in. For a small community like ours to draw 25 individuals to any such event says a lot about our people. Local Angle runs Fridays.
