Flin Flon, Manitoba... What?

[Sulley]

Hi guys,

Do any of you know anything about Flin Flon, MB and what it's like? I have a friend who is taking a job up there. All I know is that it's the 9th largest city in Manitoba and is quite... removed from civilization.

Anyone ever been?

[Greco Roman]

It is a nice little city settled in the Canadian Shield surrounded by gorgeous and plantiful lakes. It is a very scenic town with a huge mining industry. I have relatives up there. The city also has some of the steepest sloped street in the prairies; it almost makes you feel like you are in San Francisco or something. I like that city.

The Pas, on the other hand, is quite the opposite. I lived there for 3 month on a government contract, and I couldn't wait to get out!

[Sulley]

What's it like to get there? How does it feel to be so... isolated?

[ibz]

Ahh Flin Flon, home of above ground sewers, a GIANT smelter stack and of course Flintabbatey Flonatin

http://uncyclopedia.org/images/thumb/b/b8/Flinty_Statue_2.jpg/300px-Flinty_Statue_2.jpg

Nice scenery, but it really really really is in the middle of nowhere

[drew]

Flin Flon is actually not bad. It's smack in the Cdn. Sheild and it doesn't get nearly as cold there as it does in Thompson...

My Dad grew up there and still refers to it as "god's country"...

[Greco Roman]

Ahh Flin Flon, home of above ground sewers, a GIANT smelter stack and of course Flintabbatey Flonatin

http://uncyclopedia.org/images/thumb/b/b8/Flinty_Statue_2.jpg/300px-Flinty_Statue_2.jpg

Nice scenery, but it really really really is in the middle of nowhere

You want to talk about the middle of nowhere? Let's talk about Fort MacMurray, Alberta. A city with absolutely no culture and no towns around it for hundreds of kilometers; an area that is tearing up every square inch of forest around it. From space it's beginning to look like a giant moonscape. Flin Flon is in an area that isn't as isolated, plus the outdoor life is to die for in the shield country, IMO. It's easy to get to. Just go up Highway 10 from Brandon about 7 hours.

[Western Spaghetti]

You want to talk about the middle of nowhere? Let's talk about Fort MacMurray, Alberta. A city with absolutely no culture and no towns around it for hundreds of kilometers; an area that is tearing up every square inch of forest around it. From space it's beginning to look like a giant moonscape. Flin Flon is in an area that isn't as isolated, plus the outdoor life is to die for in the shield country, IMO. It's easy to get to. Just go up Highway 10 from Brandon about 7 hours.

Have you actually been up to Fort MacMurray?? There are a couple of spots where the tar sands are that are open and torn up, but outside of that, it just miles and miles of forest and nothing but, throw in some lakes and some sand dunes and actually the outdoor life is very similar to Flin Flon

As far as remoteness, well, it is remote for sure, but it's a lot closer to a city than Flin Flon is. Fort Mac is 3 1/2 - 4hours from Edmonton.

[Greco Roman]

Have you actually been up to Fort MacMurray?? There are a couple of spots where the tar sands are that are open and torn up, but outside of that, it just miles and miles of forest and nothing but, and actually the outdoor life is very similar to Flin Flon

As far as remoteness, well, it is remote for sure, but it's a lot closer to a city than Flin Flon is. Fort Mac is 3 1/2 - 4hours from Edmonton.

Yes I have, and I was referring to the fact that there are no immediate towns around fort mac that are of any significance. Around flin flon, you have The Pas, Thompson, Hudson Bay SK all within a 2.5 hr drive, and if you want to go the distance, even Prince Albert, SK . Have a closer look; you can see that those areas around FM are more disturbed than you think. And with the proposed expansion of the tar sands, this will only get much much worse. Man tries to hide it, but there are tell tail signs that they have made their mark.

[Surrealplaces]

Yes I have, and I was referring to the fact that there are no immediate towns around fort mac that are of any significance. Around flin flon, you have The Pas, Thompson, Hudson Bay SK all within a 2.5 hr drive, and if you want to go the distance, even Prince Albert, SK . Have a closer look; you can see that those areas around FM are more disturbed than you think. And with the proposed expansion of the tar sands, this will only get much much worse. Man tries to hide it, but there are tell tail signs that they have made their mark.

So in Flin Flon, The closest towns are towns like The Pas, and Thompson, and they're 2.5 hours away....doesn't that seem remote to you. To me that's the dictionary example of remote.

[1ajs]

from the peg go up the number 6 and then cut over to the 10 on 60.

[Greco Roman]

So in Flin Flon, The closest towns are towns like The Pas, and Thompson, and they're 2.5 hours away....doesn't that seem remote to you. To me that's the dictionary example of remote.

Compared to other centres like Inuvik, Iqaluit, Cambridge Bay, etc. Flin Flon is not as remote as some may claim. Yes, somewhat remote, but not that bad; gimme a break!

[Sulley]

What do you do if you need gas on the way to Flin Flon? Is there absolutely nothing around on Highway 10?

Sorry, I'm not familiar with the area. It just seems out in the wilderness...

...and above ground sewers? Que?!

[Greco Roman]

What do you do if you need gas on the way to Flin Flon? Is there absolutely nothing around on Highway 10?

Sorry, I'm not familiar with the area. It just seems out in the wilderness...

...and above ground sewers? Que?!

There are gas stations in Cranberry Portage, Wanless and The Pas (TP), and a few small no-name stations along the way between FF and TP. The ones outside town probably close at around 9-10pm.

Between The Pas and Swan River, the only gas station on the hwy that I am aware of is in Mafeking. After Swan River you are in a more populous area with your typical hwy/town/gas station ratio.

In the more remote areas outside towns, just plan your trip accordingly to make sure you don't drive during times where stations are closed. It's very easy. This is all along Highway 10 in western Manitoba. Along highway 6 is more remote.

Where are you coming from anyway?

[Sulley]

Winterpeg or Saskatoon.

[1ajs]

Winterpeg or Saskatoon.

take a sleeping bag.... comes in handy if ya run outa gas to keep warm


um actualy take a winter survial kit... and a jery can of petrol

[Sulley]

Do cell phones work along the highways?

Y'all are scaring me. lol

[harls]

There used to be that NFB "History of Flin Flon" vignette on TV all the time when I was growing up.. I'm sure some of you guys will remember it. Wish I could find it on the web, that would be great for Sulley to see. :D

[harls]

http://www.cbc.ca/mercerreport/backissues.php?season=3

Go to Week of December 6, 2005 and click on 'Hepatitis'.

[wags_in_the_peg]

i visited a few times as my bro lived in the pas for 2 years and part of his sales region included Flin Flon. Amazing fishing!!!

[vid]

...and above ground sewers? Que?!

In a lot of Northern Communities, the ground in permafrost, so they build sewer lines, etc. above ground. Iqaluit is probably the largest city that has them. They can't build them underground, and in many cases buildings are on stilts as well. I didn't know Flin Flon was like that though.

Flin Flon is where the government proved it doesn't know how to grow pot. :)

[circle33]

Winterpeg or Saskatoon.


It's about a 200 km shorter drive from Saskatoon. Won't be much cell coverage for the last 350 km.

[wags_in_the_peg]

lots of pics to look at

http://images.google.com/images?q=%22flin+flon%22&ndsp=18&svnum=10&hl=en&start=0&sa=N

[Arriviste]

You want to talk about the middle of nowhere? Let's talk about Fort MacMurray, Alberta. A city with absolutely no culture and no towns around it for hundreds of kilometers; an area that is tearing up every square inch of forest around it. From space it's beginning to look like a giant moonscape. Flin Flon is in an area that isn't as isolated, plus the outdoor life is to die for in the shield country, IMO. It's easy to get to. Just go up Highway 10 from Brandon about 7 hours.

You can't even spell Fort McMurray correctly, and for that you are discredited. I have never been to Ft McMurray, but do know that you not a credible source regarding it.

Back on topic, the lakes will be pretty, but I'm betting the mosquitoes will eb out of control for the relatively short summer. But thats Canadian shield for you. Pretty lakes with some overcomable setbacks. Tell him to get a snowmobile. The best purchase a person can make when moving to an isolated Canadian town. They provide countless hours of fun through the LONG and snowy winters.

[Roger Strong]

I lived in The Pas in the 1970s. Since then they decided to keep the big box stores out, to protect the local businesses. The result: The little mall in town looks *exactly* like it did 35 years ago, and the town is stagnant.

The mall on the reserve outside of town has flourished. And there are organized shopping trips to Flin Flon where all the box stores went, along with jobs and population growth.

[vaportrail]

All I know is that there was no love lost when the Estevan Bruins came to town to take on the Bombers. :twoguns:

[h0twired]

Bobby Clarke playing for the Flin Flon Bombers....

http://www.legendsofhockey.net/graphspot/one_clarke02.jpg

[vaportrail]

[QUOTE=h0twired;2591311]Bobby Clarke playing for the Flin Flon Bombers....
QUOTE]

Of course that was back in the WCHL days. I didn't realize the teams still existed. Back then I didn't understand why #4 for the Bruins didn't look anything like Bobby Orr.

[CanadianCentaur]

A couple of things about Flin Flon....

The city lies in both Manitoba and Saskatchewan (the vast majority is in Manitoba of course, though) Another thing is that although it does look pretty "northern", what with the Canadian Shield, boreal forest and all, Flin Flon is only a little over one degree farther north in latitude than Edmonton. Even Grande Prairie, Fort St. John and Dawson Creek, cities with a lot of surrounding farmland, are farther north than Flin Flon.

There used to be that NFB "History of Flin Flon" vignette on TV all the time when I was growing up.. I'm sure some of you guys will remember it. Wish I could find it on the web, that would be great for Sulley to see. :D

I remember seeing something like that not too long ago in the '90s. It was on CBC, I believe.

[psych1]

You can't even spell Fort McMurray correctly, and for that you are discredited. I have never been to Ft McMurray, but do know that you not a credible source regarding it.

Back on topic, the lakes will be pretty, but I'm betting the mosquitoes will eb out of control for the relatively short summer. But thats Canadian shield for you. Pretty lakes with some overcomable setbacks. Tell him to get a snowmobile. The best purchase a person can make when moving to an isolated Canadian town. They provide countless hours of fun through the LONG and snowy winters.

You spelled "be" wrong, what does that say? Seriously... not knowing how to spell it doesn't mean he or she has never been there or that they are not credible.

[psych1]

I have been to Flin Flon and my opinion is that the surroundings are pretty, but culturally it is much like most resource towns, pretty rough and tumble and what some might call "redneck". Not necessarily bad, and nowhere near as bleak as McMurray but not my taste.

[lubicon]

My uncle gre up in Flin Flon. He has the dubious distinction of running over Bobby Clarke's teeth one summer with his car.

[rrskylar]

Hi guys,

Do any of you know anything about Flin Flon, MB and what it's like? I have a friend who is taking a job up there. All I know is that it's the 9th largest city in Manitoba and is quite... removed from civilization.

Anyone ever been?

Do you have asthma? If not after a year there you probably will.

[Greco Roman]

You can't even spell Fort McMurray correctly, and for that you are discredited. I have never been to Ft McMurray, but do know that you not a credible source regarding it.


Yeah, because there are never any spelling mistakes made by anyone except myself right? You are so bloody perfect? Loser.

As for not being a credible source, you can believe what you want. As I've stated before, my double major that I am persuing includes Land Reclemation of natural landscapes, especially those concerning the Oilsands projects up around Fort McMurray (is that better, Einstein?) so yeah, I do happen to know a little about it. :rolleyes:

[Arriviste]

Nice post Newb.
I was just pointing out that it was funny that you were passing judgement on a place that you were too inept to spell correctly. Pointing out that you are obviously ignorant.
And yes, that is better. For someone allegedly pursuing a double degree, especially in something as socially responisble as land reclaimation that you would at exude some air of intelligence. I'm guessing it's one of your first two years in post-sec and that you have yet to figure things out exactly. Still full of that teen age angst, but facing the reality of academia. Wasn't too long ago I was the same way. Step one: Get a better attitude. Step two: get informed Step three: reading your posts before hitting reply.

[Greco Roman]

Nice post Newb.
I was just pointing out that it was funny that you were passing judgement on a place that you were too inept to spell correctly. Pointing out that you are obviously ignorant.
And yes, that is better. For someone allegedly pursuing a double degree, especially in something as socially responisble as land reclaimation that you would at exude some air of intelligence. I'm guessing it's one of your first two years in post-sec and that you have yet to figure things out exactly. Still full of that teen age angst, but facing the reality of academia. Wasn't too long ago I was the same way. Step one: Get a better attitude. Step two: get informed Step three: reading your posts before hitting reply.


My apologies; I didn't realize I was dealing with such a mature, academic scholar who is superior in terms of intelligence and more well-rounded than myself :rolleyes:

Whatever.

Speaking of ignorance, it is also on you for criticizing my spelling errors while making mistakes yourself. That also makes you a hypocrite, and it sure as hell doesn't make you any more intelligent than myself. I think you need to read your last post and take a dose of your own medicine since you are not qualified to critique me.

Don't judge me and I won't judge you. Got it? Good.

Peace :notacrook:

Now enough of this petty bullshit; lets get back to the topic at hand, shall we?

[1ajs]

Do you have asthma? If not after a year there you probably will.

lol ya.. you guys think torontos smog is bad...

[Greco Roman]

lol ya.. you guys think torontos smog is bad...


From my understanding, the mining establishments in Flin Flon have cut back on harmful emmisions by implimenting more environmentally friendly technology such as higher efficiency scrubbers to remove sulfer and other harmful chemicals spewed into the air. Of course it's still far from perfect, but nothing ever is.

ps TO smog is absolutely horrible at times, but not all the time.

[flatlander]

In a lot of Northern Communities, the ground in permafrost, so they build sewer lines, etc. above ground. Iqaluit is probably the largest city that has them. They can't build them underground, and in many cases buildings are on stilts as well. I didn't know Flin Flon was like that though.

Flin Flon is where the government proved it doesn't know how to grow pot. :)

I didn't think it was so much a permafrost issue as the fact that its built on a rock. It is quite interesting to see.

[1ajs]

From my understanding, the mining establishments in Flin Flon have cut back on harmful emmisions by implimenting more environmentally friendly technology such as higher efficiency scrubbers to remove sulfer and other harmful chemicals spewed into the air. Of course it's still far from perfect, but nothing ever is.

ps TO smog is absolutely horrible at times, but not all the time.

scrubers are a joke just moves the polution from the air to the ground water

[freeweed]

I didn't think it was so much a permafrost issue as the fact that its built on a rock. It is quite interesting to see.

Yeah, Flin Flon is basically like the moon, but with a few trees. The pictures I've seen remind me a LOT of Sudbury back when Inco had pretty much no pollution controls. (It's taken decades to recover. Driving by Sudbury in the early 90s was interesting, to say the least - the trees just got shorter and shorter as you approached town, until they were barely a foot high.)

Flin Flon is more of a "natural" moonscape, and actually has some big trees, but either way - the town is built up on solid granite bedrock. You don't run sewer lines through that, unless you're VERY rich. Permafrost, incidentally, is not an issue with granite - although there may be parts of town that have enough actual soil that this could become a concern, I doubt Flin Flon is anywhere near north enough to have much permafrost. It's about the same latitude as Edmonton, and gets similar temperatures throughout the year.

The vignette in question, or at least the one I remember, described how the town was named after one Flintabbatey Flonatin (bet I spelled that wrong!), a character in an old science fiction novel. It's one of a very few places named after a science fiction character.

In terms of moving there, I hope you enjoy small town life. It's one hell of a trip to any city. Beautiful area, though. As for cellphone coverage, there's service in town, but not GSM (Rogers), and service on the highway up is practically nonexistent. MTS's site is buggered so I can't confirm for sure, but it is remote enough that it's worth doing your homework on.

[vid]

I didn't think it was so much a permafrost issue as the fact that its built on a rock. It is quite interesting to see.

A rock? :O Didn't they have a nice, flat swamp to build on, like Thunder Bay? :)

Our sewer system is sinking into the core of the earth at a rate of three millimeters a year!! :banana:

[Andy6]

The vignette in question, or at least the one I remember, described how the town was named after one Flintabbatey Flonatin (bet I spelled that wrong!), a character in an old science fiction novel. It's one of a very few places named after a science fiction character.
.

It was a dime store novel called The Sunless City by the Victorian pulp novelist J.E. Preston Muddock. The story is briefly recounted here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.E._Preston_Muddock). Only one copy of The Sunless City shows up on bookfinder.com and it is a bound photostatic reprint published by the Flin Flon library (at over $200).Link (http://www.bookfinder.com/search/?ac=sl&st=sl&qi=lb,znT6zVGx6OP7A6mWpCWcJXjU_4117906939_2:36:119).

[Shodan]

It was a dime store novel called The Sunless City by the Victorian pulp novelist J.E. Preston Muddock. The story is briefly recounted here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.E._Preston_Muddock). Only one copy of The Sunless City shows up on bookfinder.com and it is a bound photostatic reprint published by the Flin Flon library (at over $200).Link (http://www.bookfinder.com/search/?ac=sl&st=sl&qi=lb,znT6zVGx6OP7A6mWpCWcJXjU_4117906939_2:36:119).

http://www.cityofflinflon.com/chamber/flintysub.jpg :tup:

[Sulley]

Thanks for all the insight, guys. I'll be visiting next month.

Enjoyed the bitchfest in this thread too. You guys do it so well... :D

[vid]

Enjoyed the bitchfest in this thread too. You guys do it so well... :D

It's a Canadian tradition. :) One isn't Canadian until he has fiercely defended something pointless.

[1ajs]

It's a Canadian tradition. :) One isn't Canadian until he has fiercely defended something pointless.

lol ya