After 49 superb Spirit Way concrete wolf statues were painted and placed across Manitoba, the 50th wolf will soon roam at Paint Lake Provincial Park this summer. Announcements about the artist and art will be made soon.

The 51st Spirit Way wolf was transported on a low deck truck by Gardewine North. It traveled all the way to Rye, New York, to live at the home of Ivor Elrifi. Along the long route, the howling wolf attracted much attention as many passer-by people took photos and waved at the driver.

Ivor lived in Thompson in the 1970s as a teenager. His family later moved and eventually Ivor made his way to the USA where he now works as a patent lawyer. Ivor has a fondness for his young days living in a small city in the wilderness. Wolf packs roamed the boreal forest around Thompson then as they do now. Having a colourful howling wolf statue on his residential property will be a great reminder of those early years. And probably a great conversation piece in the neighbourhood!

We will have a photo of Ivor’s finished statue later this summer.

The first 49 wolves are part of a Manitoba wide GPS Wolf Hunt. Did you buy your GPS Passport in Winnipeg, Thompson or Churchill to participate in this geocache travel adventure? See the retail outlets listed here…

http://www.thompsonspiritway.ca/take-the-walk/wolves-along-the-way/

Click on “A GPS Hunt”.

Now the wolves are going international! As time goes on, there may be others in Minneapolis and Mexico… we are working on it. It would truly become a Wolves Without Borders campaign throughout North America.

If you would like the next Spirit Way wolf, please contact us through the website. See more details here…

http://www.thompsonspiritway.ca/take-the-walk/wolves-along-the-way/

Click on “A GPS Hunt” and Contact Us.

What started out as an empty field five years ago has become one of the most picturesque tourist sites in Thompson. Not only are people dropping by daily to photograph and enjoy the panorama of the Burntwood River and float plane base, numerous wedding parties have had their photos taken under the restored Norseman floatplane. The volunteers of the Spirit Way committee, Aviation Group and Lions Club have been continually upgrading the site and turning it into a landscaped park. Improved lighting, more landscaping, more benches, litter containers, flagpoles, etc are still on the shopping list as the groups raise money to purchase and add additional features.

Recently the access road has been paved, which has made the site that much more clean and attractive. No more washboard and gravel! The paving component cost $41,000 and was paid for by the Lions Club and the City of Thompson ($10,000). It is remarkable that volunteers are raising money to pave public access roads for the benefit of the community. A formal ribbon cutting ceremony will be held soon.

If you haven’t visited the Tribute to Northern Aviation site and Thompson Lions Club Park lately, please do so and enjoy the view and area. You may even catch a floatplane taking off or landing on the Burntwood River which is always cool!

AND please, help us keep the area clean. Most people use the litter bins, but unfortunately not all. Pick up any garbage and if you see someone litter, give them a polite scolding!