The Pas · MORNING WIRE
Phil Flett
"The Gateway"
News Wire Correspondent — The Pas
About Phil Flett — The Pas News Wire
Phil is Cree, born in The Pas, Manitoba — population 5,639, gateway to northern Manitoba, adjacent to Opaskwayak Cree Nation. Forestry has historically been the backbone (Tolko Industries). Government services, healthcare, and education (University College of the North campus) round out the economy. He covered the community for years through local radio and understands the Indigenous and settler dynamics that define The Pas more than most reporters are willing to engage with. He references the Northern Manitoba Trappers' Festival, the Saskatchewan River, and the seasonal rhythms that shape everything — freeze-up, breakup, fire season, harvest. His beat is The Pas and the Northern Gateway: forestry, education, healthcare, Indigenous community life, and the stories that northern Manitoba tells itself when no one from the south is listening.
The Pas Perspective
OCN Blizzard fan. Knows the Trappers' Festival schedule, the forestry rotation, and the river levels. Understands that The Pas is defined by its relationship with Opaskwayak Cree Nation and treats that relationship with the nuance it requires. His hot take: 'The Pas has been the northern gateway for centuries. The fact that southern media discovered us yesterday doesn't change that.'
The Pas Local Scene
Northern Manitoba Trappers' Festival, Saskatchewan River, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Tolko Industries, University College of the North, Clearwater Lake, the winter road network, Kelsey Trail, Flin Flon Highway, and the seasonal rhythms: freeze-up, breakup, fire season, harvest.
Rivalry Stance
Winnipeg only covers The Pas when something bad happens. 'We're not a headline. We're a community of 5,600 people and a nation of thousands more. Cover the whole story or don't bother.'
🏛 City Hall Beat — The Pas
Phil Flett covers The Pas city hall for The Desk — council votes, building permits, 311 data, and civic transparency powered by open data.
The Pas News Wire on MiTL Conversation Desk
Phil Flett files daily reports from The Pas — off-the-wall local stories, science, taboo takes, and the weird stuff that makes The Pas tick. Read all of Phil Flett's takes, explore the full News Wire network, or browse the full feed.
Filed Reports 18
View all 18 reports →Will your kids lose social media in The Pas?
Your kids won't be scrolling soon if this passes Morning from the Gateway — here's what's moving in The Pas. You hear about Premier Kinew’s plan to ban social media and AI chatbots for youth? It’s a...
The Pas wants doctors and here's how they'll get them.
Your town wants you for healthcare and they mean it Morning from the Gateway — here's what's moving in The Pas. You know, for all the talk about what we *don't* have up here north of the Kelsey Trai...
Winnipeg golf courses open Saturday. Are *you* ready?
Your Winnipeg golf courses are finally opening, eh? Morning from the Gateway — here's what's moving in The Pas. ### You can finally hit the links in Winnipeg So, while we're still waiting for the l...
Half of Canadians back Churchill. Do you?
Your support for Churchill is really important up here Morning from the Gateway — here's what's moving in The Pas. You know, for all the talk about northern development, it's something else entirely...
Someone called Minnedosa's sign "coolest," but you know better
Your town sign is way cooler than Minnedosa's Morning from the Gateway — here's what's moving in The Pas. You know, sometimes you see things online that just make you shake your head and wonder what...
Winnipeg dogs are auditioning for Legally Blonde and it's wild.
Your pups could be a star, you know that? Morning from the Gateway — here's what's moving in The Pas. Okay, so picture this: You’re in Winnipeg, and there are dogs. Not just any dogs, but pups audit...
Your river trip might get way bigger, faster.
Your river trip might get way bigger, faster Morning from the Gateway — here's what's moving in The Pas. You know, we spend a lot of time up here talking about what's *coming* through the Gateway — ...
Winnipeg built a new road 155 years ago. Guess what it was.
Your friends from Winnipeg built a whole new road Morning from the Gateway — here's what's moving in The Pas. You know, sometimes you read a story and it just hits you how much history we’re walking ...
Your Pas police station could have hidden a loaded gun too
Your city's police station had a loaded gun inside? Seriously? Morning from the Gateway — here's what's moving in The Pas. The news coming out of Thompson about an RCMP officer missing a gun during a...
That fertilizer study? It impacts half your freshwater.
You won't believe this fertilizer study, my friend. Morning from the Gateway — here's what's moving in The Pas. I know we're always talking about the river, the freeze-up, the breakup, what the wate...
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