came to us and asked, ‘Should I go for a couple of streets or a lot?’And I said,‘Why don’t you go for the gusto?’” That bold approach paid off in total—the city received the entire $87 million. The power of collaboration is also evident in Thompson’s efforts to rebuild its aquatic center. Originally projected to cost $19 million, the center’s budget ballooned to $40 million due to pandemic-related cost increases. Instead of letting the project stall, the city mobilized its network of supporters. Mayor Smook recalls receiving letters from surrounding communities urging the provincial government to help fund the center because of its importance to the region.“We got everybody on board,” she says, adding that the recent NDP government stepped in with a $10 million commitment, with more funding expected. For the mayor, transparency and relationshipbuilding are the cornerstones of these achievements. When asked what sets Thompson apart from other the airport’s exterior.“I said, well, you should maybe look underneath and see what we’re dealing with.” That hands-on approach paid off—within weeks, the province was talking, and within a month, the city secured funding. It’s a story that reflects Mayor Smook’s philosophy: you must show people what you need and why it matters. Another key initiative was the five-year, $87 million roads and sewer renewal project. Smook credits Gill Singh, the city’s engineer at the time, for pushing the boundaries when the funding opportunity arose.“He Cargo to Canada’s North Our Freight Division is your trusted leader for cargo delivery in Northern Ontario, Northern Manitoba, Nunavut and beyond. Big freight or small parcel, you can depend on our experience to deliv THOMPSON WINNIPEG RED LAKE PICKLE LAKE SIOUX L OOKOUT THUNDER BA Y K APUSK ASING Toll free1.844.633.6294 cargo@northstarair.ca MORE INFO! Proud to Support Thompson Manitoba ICE STRIP LANDINGS BULK FUEL DELIVERY LAST MINUTE SHIPMENTS LARGE/OVERSIZE FREIGHT 286 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 11
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