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KELSEYSCHOOLDIVISION "MISSIONSTATEMENT" "Westrivetobearespectfuland enthusiasticschoolcommunity,dedicated toqualityeducationforall." Forinformationaboutourschools, pleasecontact: MargaretBarbourCollegiateInstitute 623-3485 ÉcoleOpasquiaEarlyYearsSchool 623-3459 KelseyCommunitySchool 623-7421 ÉcoleScottBatemanMiddleSchool 623-3411 MaryDuncanSchool(including KelseyLearningCentre) 623-1420 KelseySchoolDivisionOffice 623-6421 www.ksd.mb.ca SUPPORTINGARTINTHENORTH ANDNORTHERNARTISTS FORINFORMATIONONEVENTSPLEASECALL CRYSTALKOLT-CULTURALCOORDINATOR,(204)687-5974 orinfo@flinflonartscouncil.com www.flinflonartscouncil.com THEFLINFLON ARTSCOUNCIL ServingThompsonfor40+Years CityCenterMall-theCentreofitALL DecemberHours MondaytoFriday-9:30amto9:00pm Saturday-9:30amto6:00pm Sunday-12noonto5:00pm Somestorehoursmayvary Email:citycentrethompson@arcturusrealty.com Website:www.shopcitycentremall.com MallOfficeTel:(204)677-2113 Fax:(204)677-4611 Mark'sWorkWearhouse–204-677-8165,1-888-221-4778 Reitman's–204-778-8523 Safeway–204-677-2600,800-723-3929 TheCashStore–204-778-5863 Myleen'sTreasures–204-778-3507 PeoplesJewellers–204-778-7771 Bootlegger–204-778-3532 TimHortons–204-677-8467(Tims) Eclipse–204-778-4623 TheSource–204-677-3709 KBInsurance–204-677-9991 Ardene–1-877-606-4233 Ext.#364 CornerDeli–204-677-3997 Cruisin'FriedChicken–204-778-8438 DonJohnsonJewellers–204-677-0345 Kicks&Threads–204-677-8001 AssiniboineCreditUnion–204-677-0850 TDCanadaTrust–203-677-6080 Wal-Mart–204-778-4669,1-800-570-3213 RogersWireless–204-677-3212 WarehouseOne–204-778-8122 ThompsonTradingPost–204-677-2026,1-800-665-0431 ThompsonDentalCentre–204677-4555 TrevorPolischuk Pres Cell 204-620-0522 Home 204-624-5774 trevselectric@live.ca •Residential •Commerical •Industrial •Maintenance •FurnaceRepair •MBHydro LoanApproved inThePas,MB. WANLESSMB-POBox2400THEPASMBR9A1M2 Cell 204-623-0744 Res 204-682-7516 Shop 204-682-7510 Fax 204-682-7410 Sand Graveland6&8AxleLowbedding PFUND TRUCKING PeterPfund–Owner email:PfundTrucking@hotmail.com FRONTLINESPORT&LEISURELTD. 502CORNATIONDRIVE, CREIGHTON,SK,S0P0A0 TerrainDomination.com T he first is a David and Goliath story. Leona Kemp, 58, was born in Winnipeg- osis and grew up in an entrepreneurial family, but she found herself in Flin Flon when Midwest Drilling offered her an office job. She set down roots, married in 1982, and togeth- er with her husband Harley, raised three boys. Twelve years ago, an opportunity came up to buy a business. It would have been a simple deci- sion for Kemp, except that's when Goliath rolled into town. Walmart had decided to set up shop. How could a brand new small business survive against a retail giant? "I talked it over with my husband and my sister and my friends and I said, 'You know what? I don't think I'm afraid of Walmart opening!' " she says. Kemp says that, in fact, it turned out to be good for business. "It brought a lot of people in." The key was not to compete, but to be some- thing completely different. Kemp looked at her strengths and realized that a small but nimble business, armed with the right stock, could win over customers. She focused on a wide selection of quality giftware for every person, and every special occasion. "We added the flowers because I've always had an interest in floral," she says. "And I thought it would be good for our business to be more di- versified as well." The strategy worked and the store flourished. But Kemp also credits the store's success to her staff. She says her parents always taught her to hire the friendliest people she could find. These had to be people that could follow her mother's business credo. "My mom said, 'Leona, keep in mind: Smile if it kills you, and the customer is always right,' " she says. "Kill 'em with kindness!" So with a good business plan and great staff, it was blue skies for Northern Rainbow's End until 2006. That's when the second story happened — a story of mythic proportions. "We had a fire." It was an ironic twist only the Fates could throw — two of Kemp's sons are firefighters. Completely destroyed, the business would have to become a Phoenix rising. It was do-or-die time, but the will to carry on came from the store's loyal customers. "They were sending us flowers and saying, 'You need to open again!' " The fire raged on April 28, and by the first of August Kemp had bought and set up a new loca- tion and she and her team were ready to go. "I'm really blessed to have the family, the staff and the support of the customers that we do," she says. Flin Flon's strong community spirit is one of the things that really appeals to Kemp. "In a smaller community and especially in a northern community, people are close," she says. "You know if people are ill or anything like that, we all come together and that's what I like, it's one big family." And she loves the opportunity to give back. This past year Kemp and her staff pulled together with the Flin Flon Fire Department to organize a fundraiser for a young woman who had to travel to B.C. for medical treatments. They were able to provide $31,000 to help relieve the family's finan- cial burden. Today, NRE's retail space is about 1,800 square feet. Kemp's lineup includes gourmet products; kitchenware, men's and women's clothing and accessories including scarves, purses and wal- lets; a baby section; Christmas and other sea- sonal giftware and decorations; candles, bath supplies and specialty items for firefighters and Harley Davidson fans. "We have moccasin slippers, frames, pottery and lots of lovely jewelry," she says. "We also pride ourselves on our modern and traditional floral designs and the work we do on wedding flowers and other events." The business thrives with strong sales on Fa- cebook and, in addition to the local clientele, a solid base of out-of-town customers from Al- berta, B.C., Saskatchewan and Ontario, some of whom come to the store in person. "I'm so proud of my family and staff," Kemp says. For her, that's what it's really all about — the people close to home and further away. "I love what I do. I just enjoy coming here, making the floral arrangements, talking with the people, it's just a part of me," she says. "It makes me feel good for having something like this in a small town." ❙ Diversity has been key to the shop's success. Photos courtesy of Northern Rainbow's End Gifts & Flowers From the outside, Northern Rainbow's End is a charming little gift and floral shop. But if you get to talking to owner Leona Kemp, you'll discover that what's inside holds two really big stories — the kind that myths and legends are made of. Labour of Love Rainbow's End rises to any occasion In a smaller communIty and especIally In a northern communIty, people are close," she says. "you know If people are Ill or anythIng lIke that, we all come together and that's what I lIke, It's one BIg famIly. " " 2 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, SATURDAY DECEMBER 6, 2014 F L I N F L O N By Wendy King For the Free Press

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