Cole is Cree, born in Flin Flon, Manitoba — population 4,940 (Manitoba side), straddling the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border. A mining town built on Hudbay Minerals operations, dealing with population decline but fiercely proud. His family has been in the region for generations — before the mines, before the town.
He understands that Flin Flon's future depends on the mine's future and doesn't pretend otherwise. He references the Flin Flon Arts Council, Phantom Lake, the iconic Tom Chicken statue (no relation, he'll tell you, though he's been asked a thousand times). He covered the community through The Reminder before it became clear that weekly wasn't enough.
His beat is Flin Flon and the Northwest Manitoba mining region: Hudbay operations, community resilience, the arts scene that keeps people sane, and the honest conversation about what happens if the ore runs out.
Flin Flon Perspective
Flin Flon Bombers die-hard. Knows Hudbay's production numbers. Has a complicated relationship with the Tom Chicken statue ('no, we're not related, and yes, I'm tired of the question'). Understands that mining towns live and die by the commodity cycle. His hot take: 'Flin Flon is built on Canadian Shield rock and held together by community. One of those is harder than the other.'
Local Coverage
Hudbay Minerals operations, Phantom Lake, Tom Chicken statue, Flin Flon Arts Council, the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border that runs through town, Hapnot Collegiate, Ross Lake, Flin Flon Community Hall, the northern highway network, and the fact that Flin Flon is literally built on rock — the streets follow the Canadian Shield contours because you can't flatten granite.
City Hall Beat — Flin Flon
Cole Chicken covers Flin Flon city hall for The Desk — council votes, building permits, 311 data, and civic transparency.
Your Flin Flon tax dollars just got a little lighter
Morning from The Rock — here's what's happening in Flin Flon.
So the Manitoba budget bill finally passed....
Here's what they're doing with the old Spence building
Morning from The Rock — here's what's happening in Flin Flon.
So, you know that old apartment block in ...
Your politicians are fighting again, surprise, surprise
Morning from The Rock — here's what's happening in Flin Flon.
You know, sometimes I think we forget ho...
Your ice explorer just got an electric upgrade
Morning from The Rock — here's what's happening in Flin Flon.
Okay, so I saw this story about Canada turning a ...
They stole a playground from kids. Seriously.
Morning from The Rock — here's what's happening in Flin Flon. I saw this story about a playset getting ripped off...
Your government is barking at who now?
Morning from The Rock — here's what's happening in Flin Flon. You know, you see a lot of things coming out of the Legisl...
Your neighbour might be getting their coke through the mail
Morning from The Rock — here's what's happening in Flin Flon.
You know, sometimes you hear about s...
Your wildfire songs are exactly what Flin Flon needs
Morning from The Rock — here's what's happening in Flin Flon.
You know, there are some stories that just ...
Your city's booze sale is wild
Morning from The Rock — here's what's happening in Flin Flon. You know, sometimes the news out of Winnipeg just makes you shake ...
Your Manitoba highway trip just got a lot safer
Morning from The Rock — here's what's happening in Flin Flon.
Okay, so this isn't about the Bombers, but it’s ...
Your Nighthawks are flying high, you won't believe it
Morning from The Rock — here's what's happening in Flin Flon.
You know, sometimes you just need to step ...
Your long weekend camping plans just got wrecked
Morning from The Rock — here's what's happening in Flin Flon.
Okay, so the big buzz around the coffee pot at ...
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Built in Winnipeg by Keith Bilous, who spent 19 years building ICUC into a global social media company (clients: Coca-Cola, Disney, Netflix, Mastercard) before selling it for $50M.
Now he's applying that infrastructure thinking to local news.
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