many of whom rely on the city for access to essential services unavailable closer to home. From medical care and emergency response to infrastructure, housing, education, recreation, and business development, Thompson’s leadership is guiding the community through one of its most transformative periods. As Mayor Colleen Smook explains, Thompson’s identity is rooted not only in geography but in responsibility. “We are a city of just over 13,000 people, but we are a service area for more than 65,000 residents in outlying communities,” says Mayor Smook. “That is what really makes us the hub of the North.” This role places Thompson at the center of healthcare delivery, transportation logistics, emergency management, and economic activity for dozens of northern communities. It also shapes how the city plans, invests, and advocates, ensuring that local decisions continue to support the broader North that relies on Thompson year-round. NORTHERN TRANSPORTATION AND MEDICAL LIFELINE Few assets illustrate Thompson’s regional importance more clearly than its airport. Functioning as both a passenger hub and a critical medical transportation center, the airport plays a daily role in connecting remote communities to lifesaving care. Five charter medical planes operate out of Thompson, transporting patients from communities without road access directly to hospital services. “People fly in every day from communities that do not have road access,” Mayor Smook explains. “In the summer, they come by plane, and in the winter, they come through hundreds of kilometres of winter roads that all funnel through Thompson.” Those winter roads serve as lifelines for communities such as Brochet, Tadoule Lake, Oxford House, and others, allowing fuel, food, building materials, and essential supplies to reach areas otherwise isolated for much of the year. During warmer months, air travel becomes the only reliable option. As a result, Thompson’s airport operates not only as a regional gateway but as a cornerstone of northern resilience. “Our airport is the second busiest in Manitoba after Winnipeg,” Mayor Smook notes.“North Star Air operates out of Thompson and flies into the High Arctic with goods and services.” Beyond medical transport, the airport plays a significant role in freight movement across Northern Manitoba and into the Arctic. During the COVID pandemic, when traditional shipping routes through Winnipeg were disrupted, freight was trucked north to Thompson and flown onward, underscoring the city’s importance in maintaining supply chains during times of crisis. Passenger carriers, including Calm Air 175 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 01 THOMPSON, MB
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