Latest news with #Bissett
CTV News
a day ago
- General
- CTV News
Communities impacted by wildfire eligible for free mail forwarding service
Several Manitoba communities impacted by wildfires are eligible for free mail forwarding service by Canada Post. Uploaded June 11, 2025. (File photo) Residents from more Manitoba communities impacted by wildfires are eligible for free mail forwarding service by Canada Post. In a media release, the Crown corporation said that wildfires are affecting mail and parcel delivery in some communities and that contingency measures have been put in place to keep them connected. Free mail forwarding service for up to a year is now available for residents from Bissett (R0E 0J0, R0E 0B1), Cranberry Portage (R0B 0H0, R0B 0B3), Snow Lake (R0B 1M0, R0B 0B4) and Split Lake (R0B 1P0, R0B 0E1). Impacted residents from the four communities have until July 11 to register for the free service, according to Canada Post. Since June 5, the offer has been available to residents from Cross Lake (R0B), Flin Flon (R8A), Lynn Lake (R0B), Norway House (R0B 1B0), Pukatawagan (R0B) and Sherridon (R0B) who have until July 5 to register. Affected residents can request the free service online using a credit card to authenticate their identity. No fee will be charged to the credit card, according to Canada Post. Residents can also go to a post office with a government-issued photo ID to request the service. Canada Post says that by registering, they can ship mail to a different address 'on a short-term basis or for longer periods, even if the address is temporary.' 'It also provides a vital link with government and relief agencies going forward,' says the media release. Residents can view the closures and service interruptions and delivery service alerts pages on Canada Post's website for updates, including when postal services resume in impacted communities.
CTV News
30-05-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Evacuation order issued for Bissett due to wildfire danger
A map showing the location of Bissett, Man. An evacuation order was issued for the community on May 30, 2025. (CTV Winnipeg) The Bissett Community Council has issued a mandatory evacuation order for Friday morning due to wildfire danger in the area. According to a community notice, Bissett residents are being told to leave the community by 8 a.m. on Friday. Community members are asked to leave through PR 304 on the west side of the community, heading towards Pine Falls. They are also reminded to drive slowly and stop at the checkpoint. Those who are registered for a hotel will be told where to go as soon as possible, while those heading to stay with family and friends can proceed to those locations. Seasonal residents are asked to return to their primary homes. Council said it will do its best to keep community members informed, adding that more information is coming on meals, lodging and emergency social services. Residents are asked to keep council updated by calling or messaging 1-204-612-2411.
CBC
27-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Some northern Manitoba communities evacuating as wildfires have others 'preparing for the worst'
Social Sharing Some communities in northern Manitoba were evacuating on Monday, as some evacuees returned home and others braced to leave. During question period on Monday, Minister of Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures Ian Bushie said the province's wildfire status is "evolving" as fire crews continue work to extinguish more than a dozen wildfires. There are 17 active wildfires burning across Manitoba as of Monday afternoon, according to the government's most recent fire bulletin. There have been 93 fires so far this year — 24 per cent higher than last year's total by this point. Bushie said many parts of the province are on "high alert" while some evacuation orders have lifted in recent days. Residents in Lac du Bonnet, the RM of Alexander, the RM of Piney, and parts of Whiteshell Provincial Park have been allowed to return home since nearby wildfires were first detected. However, Bushie said the fires in Nopiming and Whiteshell parks are still considered out of control and reopenings depend on daily fire condition analysis. "Significant threats remain, so we would like to remind everyone that park closures and evacuations are a protective measure to safeguard lives and reduce harm when a wildfire poses a real threat," Bushie said. The community of Bissett has started planning for a possible evacuation in the coming days, due to the spread of an out-of-control wildfire in Nopiming Provincial Park. That fire has been burning for two weeks and has reached more than 121,000 hectares in size, according to Monday's provincial fire bulletin. An out-of-control wildfire southwest of Sherridon has prompted a full evacuation order in the northern Manitoba town about 640 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg. That fire has grown to more than 6,300 hectares since it was first reported last Wednesday, the most recent fire status report from the province shows. Bushie said fire guards are being put in place at Pimicikamak Cree Nation, also known as Cross Lake. The First Nation began flying high-risk residents out of the area on the weekend, over concerns wildfire smoke would affect the health of elderly community members and those with chronic health conditions. Evacuees have been sent to hotels in Winnipeg, Thompson and Brandon. Pimicikamak has not reached a full evacuation order, but incident commander Ryan Castel said community members are getting anxious and the First Nation is "bracing for the worst." "It's getting critical. Big huge walls of smoke are near our community," Castel told Margaux Watt on CBC's Up to Speed Monday afternoon. "We're holding out and praying for wind direction [changes and] rain, both of which don't seem to be coming," he said. Castel said the wildfire was more than 2,600 hectares. The province said its most up-to-date figure was 1,625 hectares in size on Monday. About 400 high-risk individuals and their family members are on the list to be evacuated, Castel said, and he fears a full evacuation is coming. About 60 kilometres northwest of Pimicikamak, Wabowden declared a local state of emergency due to a wildfire burning out of control a few kilometres away from the northern community. The most recent status report from the province shows the fire was more than 37 hectares in size as of Monday night. Wabowden Mayor Reg Mead said the state of emergency allowed local officials to pre-register the entire community of 400 people, identifying between 50 and 100 high-risk individuals who would be prioritized if an evacuation order is issued. Registrations were completed on Sunday afternoon, Mead said. Now the community is waiting to hear whether they have to leave. "Everybody seems to be coping with it and on standby," Mead said, adding residents are "working quite well together."
Chicago Tribune
04-03-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Devoted educator to be honored at Covenant Christian School concert in Aurora
Growing up in a small Indiana town, the youngest of six children, Nina Bissett always knew she wanted to be a teacher. Indeed, her favorite playtime activity was to turn hand-sewn dolls and animals her mother had made into students, who would then get schooled by her in algebra and Spanish. There was another major player in her young life. Walking home from classes one day, the senior in high school looked to the sky and felt God speaking to her through Matthew 28:19-20: 'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.' Bissett's initial career goal – to become a missionary in Africa – did not come to fruition. But over the last 30 years she helped make disciples of children here in the Fox Valley. After working in Wheaton and Nashville, Tennessee, public schools, Bissett was asked in 1980 to teach at the newly-formed Covenant Christian School in Aurora, where her son and daughter were among the 20 students enrolled. And for the next eight years she did just that, in kindergarten and first grade, but also working in classrooms at all levels before taking over as principal at Covenant Christian. How she landed in that leadership position is noteworthy, in itself. After a national search for a new principal in 1988, the Rev. Dan Haas, who founded Covenant Christian School, was in the middle of interviewing his top pick when suddenly the Oklahoma candidate stopped mid-conversation and told the pastor he felt God telling him the best choice was already in the school. After more prayer, Haas knew exactly who that person was, and asked Bissett if she would be wiling to earn her master's and doctorate while continuing to teach. The single mom of two young children again answered the call, and went on to excel in that leadership position, not only because she was an outstanding educator, but also a skilled administrator and 'mighty prayer warrior,' insisted Haas. Bissett's biggest assets, however, were 'her love for children and her desire for every child to know the love of Jesus,' he added. In 2014, Bissett, who by this time had built an impressive resume in both public and Christian education, decided to retire. She wanted to write and spend more time with her family, including son Jeremy, who was living with his wife and two children in South Korea and teaching ESL. 'I loved retirement,' said Bissett, who authored several books during this time, including 'Woman of Nobility,' the story of Emma Dreyer, who helped found Moody Bible Institute. A frequent lecturer on this revered missionary, she also earned a name for herself by taking on Dreyer's dress and persona in monologue presentations. Once more, however, God had another role in mind. When the Covenant Christian School board asked Bissett to come back and replace an outgoing principal in the fall of 2022, the school was facing financial challenges. And so she prayed. A lot. Then she said yes. That's because Bissett's commitment to Covenant Christian School, which believes in offering a high-quality Bible-based education to children of all socio-economic backgrounds, runs as deep as her faith. And it mirrors those of the parents, teachers, board members, alumni and other supporters who fight valiantly to keep its doors open. A year ago I wrote about how the school launched an aggressive crowdfunding campaign that, while it fell short of its $300,000 goal, was able to keep the school going, thanks in large part to the Aurora community. Bissett and other Covenant Christian School officials are hoping that support is evident again when the school holds its annual fundraising concert. The performance, featuring international Christian pianist Huntley Brown and the school's choir, will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, March 7, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Aurora. This free concert – donations are welcome – will be especially emotional for Bissett, as she will be retiring at the end of the school year, this time for good. 'I know what it takes to be a principal. I know my days are winding down,' she told me. 'They need someone fresh to carry the vision of the school.' Covenant Christian School, however, will 'always remain in my heart,' said Bissett, who is taking not only the school's spirit but also its story with her when she moves to South Korea to be with family. There, she hopes to write her next book, 'Have Covenant Will Travel.' Just as the Israelites in search of the promised land were always on the move, this tiny school has long been in search of a permanent home and sustainability. In its roller-coaster lifetime Covenant Christian School has occupied a number of churches but has always held on to the dream of one day acquiring a place of its own. Like those Old Testament travelers, Bissett's faith kept her moving forward. 'Over the years I've seen how when praying to God, doors open … and it continues,' she said, noting that this will require the backing of the community, which has undoubtedly benefitted from the school's commitment to service. In the last year alone, its students, who had previously decorated wooden hearts that adorned the 'Crosses for Losses' memorials for dozens of mass shooting victims across the country, have visited veterans and nursing homes. They have written letters to servicemen and women. They have been involved in projects with the Salvation Army, Samaritan's Purse and Feed My Starving Children. And each day they offer prayers for Aurora's mayor and city workers. A large turnout for Friday's concert, Bissett noted, will send a message of appreciation and thanks. Speaking of gratitude, the retiring principal – who has worked with no paycheck the last couple of years, as she has in the past – will be honored at the event. Well deserved. While Bissett may not have started a missionary school in Africa, she certainly shaped the lives of so many children closer to home. Answering that call to come out of retirement three years ago was a blessing, noted Brown, who is also chairman of the Covenant Christian School board and one of its most passionate supporters. 'Dr. Bissett's faith, prayer life and encouraging spirit are a testimony to her faithfulness,' he said. 'She has shaped leaders who are now changing their respective industries and environments. And the world is a better place as a result.'
