by Steve Selden | Mar 24, 2016 | Churchill News
The Port of Churchill sale expected to go through soon.
Anticipation of Manitoba’s port of Churchill and the Hudson Bay rail-line sale going through is building. The deal involving current owner Omnitrax from Denver, Colorado and a group of Manitoba First Nations are expected to finalize the sale in the short term. Omnitrax is opting out of the grain shipping business as a result of decreased numbers. After the Canadian Wheat Board dissolved and government incentives dried up, the shipping quota dwindled to 186,000 tons this past fall season- about a third of the average total for past seasons. It just seems as if Omnitrax’s heart wasn’t in the business as shipping totals have fallen consistently over the last few years. Hopes are high that a localized group with more alliances will spur growth and provide consistent employment for more local people in Churchill. Stay tuned for updates!
by Steve Selden | Mar 21, 2016 | Churchill News
The Hudson Bay Quest finished this weekend without any major incidents and Ryan Anderson from Ray, Minnesota won gold with a time of 31:56:43! Ryan held off second place finisher Sean McCarty and third place finisher Peter McClelland to claim the top prize. Anderson also was awarded the Calm Air sportsmanship award as well as first to halfway honor. All in all this year’s race had fantastic weather and a great group of volunteers to facilitate all the challenges. Congratulations to all the mushers that competed in what has become one of the best races in the north!
Ryan Anderson wins the Hudson Bay quest. HBQ photo.
Ryan Anderson accepting the winners trophy. HBQ photo.
2016 Hudson Bay Quest mushers. HBQ photo.
The 2016 Vet award for exceptional animal care was presented to Jacob Heigers. HBQ photo.
Ryan Anderson also won the Calm Air sportsmanship award. HBQ photo.
As always the Canadian Rangers were key support for the 2016 Hudson Bay Quest. HBQ photo.
by Steve Selden | Mar 20, 2016 | Churchill News
Here’s the official Hudson Bay Quest results for the top three finishers in Gillam. We will post the complete official results Monday or Tuesday. Congratulations to all the mushers and all the volunteers that made the 2016 Hudson Bay Quest a great race!
Bib # 7 Ryan Anderson in at 17:26:43
Bib # 5 Shawn McCarty in at 18:42:56
Bib # 11 Peter McClelland in at 20:16:52
Finish line at the HBQ in Gillam. HBQ photo.
Peter McClelland at the Hudson Bay Quest finish line. HBQ photo.
Hudson Bay Quest winner Ryan Anderson. HBQ photo.
Hudson Bay Quest runner – up Sean McCarty. HBQ photo.
Third place finisher peter McClelland. HBQ photo.
by Steve Selden | Mar 18, 2016 | Churchill News
Owl River Update:
Bib # 7 Ryan Anderson in 0750, out 0750
Bib # 5 Shawn McCarty in 0939, out 0941
Bib # 9 Stefaan De Marie in 0947, out 0948
Bib # 10 Nathaniel Hamlyn in 1004, out 1004
Bib # 4 Dan Di Muzio 1009, out 1009
Bib # 11 Peter McClelland in 1014, out 1115
Bib # 1 Charlie Lundie in 1100, and resting
Ryan Anderson from Ray, Minnesota is leading the pack of mushers surging toward Gillam, Manitoba as the annual Hudson Bay Quest dog – sled race enters the final stages today. He leads Shawn McCarty from Ely, Minnesota by nearly two hours en route to the finish line. Both mushers are past Hudson Bay Quest champions. Last year the two finished third and seventh respectively. A battle between the seasoned mushers will culminate this evening in Gillam around dinnertime. Peter McClelland, also from Ely, Minnesota is a close third just minutes behind McCarty. Churchill mushers Dave Daley and Justin Allen are forging along just behind the main pack with respectable times. These placements could change quickly as teams rest along the course. To view updated race standings go to https://hbqrace.com/.
The Hudson Bay Quest start in Churchill. Alex De Vries – magnifico photo.
Dave Daley’s dogs raring to go at the Hudson Bay Quest start line. Ales De Vries – Magnifico photo.
Justin Allen from Churchill tears out of the gate in the Hudson Bay Quest. Drew Hamilton photo.
Natural Habitat Adventures group arrives just in time Thursday for the Hudson Bay Quest start in Churchill. Drew Hamilton photo.
Justin cruising along in the HBQ. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
by Steve Selden | Mar 14, 2016 | Churchill News
Nearly two feet of snow has fallen in Churchill and it was still coming down at the time of this report. Whiteout conditions and cold temperatures – -11 C- have prompted the Town of Churchill to shut down operations and advise people to stay inside. The polar bear capital of the world is not foreign to such occurrences with this kind of storm causing havoc at least once or twice throughout the winter. Things should be up and running tomorrow according to the forecast.
PUBLIC NOTICE
-Closure Due to Adverse Weather-
March 14, 2016
Due to the limited visibility and heavy snow fall the Town of Churchill will be shutting down operations this afternoon for the safety of staff and residents. Should you require any emergency assistance please contact our on call operators at 204-675-0108
All programming is cancelled within the Town Centre Complex and will resume as scheduled tomorrow. We are asking all residents to stay inside and stay safe!
Whiteout conditions in Churchill today. Mark Reynolds photo.
Nearly two feet of snow has fallen in Churchill today. Katie de Meulles photo.
by Steve Selden | Feb 29, 2016 | Churchill News
An assessment of Manitoba government statistical documents point to increased polar bear encounters with people in Churchill, the self proclaimed polar bear capital on the shores of Hudson Bay. As a result of increased interaction between polar bears and humans the numbers of incarcerated bears has nearly doubled since 2013. That year 36 animals were captured and taken to the polar bear holding facility, or jail, compared with 65 this past year.
Polar bear lift in Churchill. Justin Gibson photo.
Over the past three years the numbers of documented cases of polar bear encounters in Churchill has risen from 229 in 2013 to 351 last year. All aspects of the current numbers point to increased activity between bears and humans in Churchill.
Daryll Hedman is the regional wildlife manager for Manitoba Conservation. His view on last year’s record for the number of polar bears caught in the populated “control zone” of Churchill indicates that even the authorities that deal with these animals on a regular basis are somewhat alarmed by the data. “Three hundred and fifty-one — for occurrences, that’s a high number,” he said.
Hedman and other experts are pointing to climate change as the culprit and resulting decreased sea ice as largely to blame. Over two-thirds of the planet’s polar bears live in Canada though experts are claiming that within only a few decades we could have a massive decline in numbers. With later freeze up in Arctic waters and thawing coming earlier in the spring, polar bears are competing for fatty seal meat within a tighter window. This impacts cubs trying to survive their first year the most. According to Andrew Derocher, a leading polar bear authority from University of Alberta, fewer cubs are making it through their first year out of the den. They simply are not getting the extended seal – hunting training on sea ice that they once were.
Polar bears spending more time on land are more likely to migrate to inhabited areas like Churchill in search of food. These encounters are happening more often and earlier in summer. Not that long ago polar bears rarely appeared in Churchill before August. Now early July seems to be the norm.
“What’s the tipping point?” Headman said. “What’s the threshold that they can go without food? When they’re on land, they’re not eating.”How long can they sustain themselves without getting onto that sea ice platform to hunt seals again?”
