a pdf - Cottage North Magazine

Transcription

January - February 2015
COTTAGE
north
Ice Men
The producers and products
of the Flin Flon hockey factory
Plus
Traditional Healer
Goal Setting
Artist James Dean
Canadian Challenge
#newpark623
Frac Sand
PEOPLE
•
COMMUNITY
•
CULTURE
•
HISTORY
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Inside
COTTAGE
north
January-February 2015 • Volume 13, Issue 1
Features
12 Chris Sawatzky, Traditional Healer
A Cree healer in Thompson shares insights into holistic healing practices
that come from the earth, and from within.
Penny Byer
16 The Art of Goal Setting: Going After Your Dreams
In this sequel to last year’s January issue, celebrities in the fields of
philanthropy, sports and music share their insights on setting
and achieving personal goals.
Shannon Smadella
20 Evolution of an Unexpected Artist
12
23
James Dean, a painter from The Pas, reveals his first solo exhibit.
Amanda Emsland
23 Canadian Challenge: A Northern Saskatchewan Classic
Mushers, dogs and trail-blazers prepare for an exciting long-distance
sled dog race.
Valerie G. Barnes-Connell
26 Concrete Dreams: #newpark623
26
Community leaders are working with youth to build a better infrastructure
for individual sports in The Pas.
Libby Stoker-Lavelle
30 The Hockey Factory: Exploring a Flin Flon Phenomenon
Discover the career highlights of Flin Flon’s many beloved hockey stars.
Morley Naylor
34 Frac Sand
In Every Issue
There is growing global demand for frac sand, a commodity that is key
to the controversial fracking process. Jim Parres discusses the discovery of
frac sand in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and the growth of a new industry.
Jim Parres
4 Editor’s Note
5 Contributors
6 Calendar of Events
7 In a Nutshell
37 Poetry Corner
38 Q&A: Dennis Foley & Project Thompson
39 A Good Taste
Grandma's Dill Pickle Soup
ON THE COVER
They came, they played,
they went out into the hockey
world and made their mark.
Morley Naylor documents the
career highlights of the city’s
finest in “The Hockey Factory”
on page 30.
COTTAGE
north
January - February 2015
Ice Men
The producers and products
of the Flin Flon hockey factory
Plus
Traditional Healer
Goal Setting
Artist James Dean
Canadian Challenge
#newpark623
Frac Sand
PEOPLE
•
COMMUNITY
•
CULTURE
•
HISTORY
cottagenorthmagazine.ca • facebook.com/cottagenorthmagazine • @cottagenorth
FREE
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3
When the mercury drops and the nights seem endless, winter brings us ample time for
quiet contemplation and the nurturing of talents; just ask the many northern artists
who find the tranquility of the season to be a boon to creativity.
This certainly applies to painter James Dean, who discovered a passion for art while
living in The Pas. Dean’s first solo exhibit is on display now at the Sam Waller
Museum, and Amanda Emsland tells us all about it on pg. 20.
Of course, winter in the north is not a quiet time for everyone; with sledding, skating,
cross-country skiing, and ice-fishing, there are plenty of outdoor activities to keep us
all busy.
In this issue, Valerie Barnes-Connell of La Ronge introduces us to the Canadian
Challenge, a gruelling three-day race through northern Saskatchewan that is a qualifier
for the famous Iditarod, and in “Flin Flon: The Hockey Factory,” Morley Naylor
reflects on the impressive hockey heritage of the remote city.
From the
Editor's Desk
Cottage North is published six times
a year by The Flin Flon Reminder in
Flin Flon and is distributed free of
charge to businesses and services
throughout northern Manitoba and
Saskatchewan.
Publisher
Valerie Durnin
In our In a Nutshell section, we also take a look at winter fun in the north, including
the first annual Flinty Fishing Derby, coming to Bakers Narrows this April, and a
moonlight cross-country ski experience in La Ronge.
As the new year begins, winter can be an opportune time to hatch plans and move
towards our personal and professional goals. Shannon Smadella returns with “The Art
of Goal Setting,” in which she interviews a number of accomplished individuals on
their strategies for overcoming obstacles and achieving the objects of their ambitions.
Interviewees include Boston Marathon veterans Dick and Rick Hoyt, and Canadian
musicians Bif Naked and Chantal Kreviazuk.
Whatever winter means to you, we hope you find a story within these pages to spark
your imagination and help you enjoy this snowy season.
Interesting people and stories from the north are what we are all about, and we love
hearing from you — please feel free to contact us at anytime with stories, letters,
pictures or artwork that you would like to share with Cottage North readers.
Editor
Libby Stoker-Lavelle
Advertising sales consultant
Krista Lemcke
Production manager
John Bettger
Graphic designer
Danita Stallard
Office administrators & copy editors
Shannon Thompson & Julian Kolt
Receptionist
Rose Daneliuk
Letters to the Editor
Do you have an opinion, a photo
or a brief story to share with
Cottage North readers?
Send in a contribution to our new
Letters to the Editor section!
4
Libby (Elizabeth) Stoker-Lavelle
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Cottage North
14 North Avenue, Flin Flon, Manitoba, R8A 0T2
phone: 204-687-4303 fax: 204-687-4473
www.cottagenorthmagazine.ca
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email: cottagenorth@thereminder.ca
Cottage North Magazine Vol 13, Issue 1 Printed in Canada, 2015.
@cottagenorth
All rights reserved. Reproduction of photos, illustrations, or text in any form without written permission
from the publisher is prohibited.
january - february • cottage north magazine
Contributors
Valerie G. Barnes-Connell “Canadian Challenge” p. 23
Morley G. Naylor "The Hockey Factory" p. 30
Morley G. Naylor was born in Sherridon and
has lived in Flin Flon since. For 32 years, he
has travelled all over northern Manitoba and
Saskatchewan with CBC TV and CBC Radio.
“I’ve really come to appreciate the beauty and
diversity of our area,” Morley says. “There are
so many stories to tell.”
Valerie G. Barnes-Connell has been the
reporter/photographer for the La Ronge
Northerner for the past eight years. She lives
in La Ronge.
Penny Byer “Chris Sawatzky, Traditional Healer” p. 12
Jim Parres "Frac Sand" p. 34
Penny Byer moved to Thompson in the late
’70s to open up the CBC North Country
studio. She moved into print as editor of employee publications with a mining company
and has freelanced for various organizations
and publications. She also teaches courses on
communications and leadership.
Amanda Emsland “Unexpected Artist James Dean” p. 20
Amanda first entered into writing as a
blogger at www.iamloveinaction.org. While
living in Rwanda, she began freelancing for
the Opasquia Times with a weekly column,
“Diary of a Spirited Yogini,” as a way to connect the two communities. She returned to
her hometown of The Pas after 13 years away
to reconnect with the town’s potential, beauty and culture. Amanda is a registered nurse in Opaskwayak, MB
and runs a business/non-profit, I Am Love In Action: Healing
Ourselves Heals The World.
Molly Gibson Kirby “REDress campaign in Thompson” p. 7
Jim Parres is a prospector/geologist who was
born in Timmins, Ontario, but raised in Flin
Flon, Manitoba. He has co-authored two
Manitoba mining books, The Nor Acme Gold
Mine Story and Headframes, Happiness and
Heartaches, along with Marc Jackson. Jim also
writes a bi-monthly column in the Snow Lake
newspaper.
Shannon Smadella “Going After Your Dreams” p. 16
As a charitable business professional, humanitarian and former Miss Canada, Shannon
Smadella has travelled the world aiding various
causes. From TSN sports host to freelance journalist, the University of Saskatchewan alumna
enjoys writing for various publications in her
free time. She is working on her third book
and is a mortgage specialist with RBC, yoga
instructor, Reiki practitioner and touring motivational speaker.
Glenda Walker-Hobbs “Arctic Alchemy” p. 37
Molly Gibson Kirby is a journalist originally
from Nova Scotia, living in northern Manitoba.
Molly studied radio television arts at Nova
Scotia Community College, and majored in
broadcast journalism. Now working for the
Thompson Citizen, the passion she has gained
for writing keeps growing with every passing
minute.
Glenda Walker-Hobbs is a retired library
technician, Flin Flon Writers Guild secretary, and co-facilitator of Advanced Poets of
Writers Village University. She has published
seven books of poetry, mostly recently Shadows
to Sunlight and Beyond the Candle Flame. She is
currently revising a novel and has two books of
poetry in progress.
Sheila Marchant “Brave New Moon” p. 37
As a longtime resident of northern Manitoba,
Sheila Marchant enjoys capturing the natural
beauty of this region in poetry. Sheila gathers
inspiration everywhere, but particularly from
her scenic views on her monthly bus rides
from Flin Flon to Prince Albert. “You can
never get bored if you look out the window,”
she says.
5
Calendar of Events
January | February 2015
Here are some highlights of what’s happening in your community this winter!
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Jan 5-31: Manitoba Arts Network
exhibit, For the Love of Craft,
featuring selections from the
Manitoba Craft Council’s annual
group show, at the NorVA centre.
Jan 22: TIFF Film: Life’s a Breeze,
presented by the Films up North
series. Hapnot Collegiate, 7:30 pm.
Feb 19: Le Week-End, presented by the Films Up North series, at Hapnot Collegiate, 7:30 pm.
Dec-Jan 31: Unguarded Moments
exhibit with paintings by local
artist James Dean. Sam Waller
Museum. See page 20 for story.
Feb 4: Armstrong’s War, a Manitoba
Theatre Centre performance. Visit www.mtc.mb.ca for details.
Jan 22-24, 30-31: Vintage
Hitchcock Drama by Theatre 53,
Library Annex, time TBA. Contact
The Pas Arts Council for details.
Jan 24: Kinsmen Comedy Jam
2015 featuring Just for Laughs
alumni Mike Macdonald.
Guy Hall, 6 pm. Contact Kevin at 204-623-6657 for tickets.
Prince Albert
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k-End, an acclaimed
Jan 20: Comedian Don Burnstick,
E.A. Rawlinson Centre, 7:30 pm.
Visit www.earawlinsoncentre.ca
for details.
Feb 16: Jann Arden concert, E.A. Rawlinson Centre, 7:30 pm.
Visit www.earawlinsoncentre.ca
for details.
Feb 24: Canadian Challenge
International Sled Dog Race mass
start, 12 noon, Central Avenue.
Visit www.canadianchallenge.com
for details. See page 22 for story.
For more, visit www.cottagenorthmagazine.ca/calendar-of-events
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Manitoba Arts
Feb 6: Armstrong’s War, a Manitoba Theatre Centre
performance, Flin Flon Community Hall, 7:30 pm. Visit www.mtc.mb.ca for details.
Thompson
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Jim Bindle th
Jan 27: Home Routes Classical
Concert featuring Bronwen
Garand-Sheridan, oboist, and
Lisa Rumpel, pianist. Flin Flon
Community Hall, 7:30 pm. Visit www.homeroutes.ca/homeroutes-classical/ for details.
The Pas
to rek
Jan 16: Crooked Brothers: folk/roots/blues concert. Flin Flon
Community Hall, 7:30 pm.
CBC Radio’s Glen Tilley called Matthew Byrne “One of the finest singers in
contemporary Newfoundland folk music.” Byrne will play at Home Routes concerts
in The Pas on February 5, Thompson on February 6, Flin Flon on February 7 & 8
and Cranberry Portage on February 10. Visit homeroutes.ca for details.
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The Pas, Thompson, Flin Flon and Cranberry Portage
p
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6
In a Nutshell:
A miscellany of regional news
REDress campaign launched in Thompson
Photo by Molly Gibson Kirby
~ Molly Gibson Kirby ~
Feminist perspective students at the
University of Manitoba northern social
work program launched the REDress
project in Thompson in December. The
project, paired with public presentations on
sexual assault numbers, stereotypes within
the media, and sexual freedom and choice,
is intended to create awareness of violence
against women. The project also ties in
with the YWCA and the Thompson Crisis
Centre. The red dresses shown here in front
of the city’s YWCA represent women who
have been victims of violence.
Excerpt reprinted courtesy of the
Thompson Citizen
~ Valerie G. Barnes-Connell ~
Almost 10 years ago, Warren Kelly and
Ken Pointon, both long-time members of
the La Ronge Ski Club, started the first
Winter Solstice Ski to the Summit.
This moonlight ski experience takes
place annually on December 21 at the Don
Allen Ski Trails north of La Ronge.
Participants head out on the 5 km trek and
ski to the highest point on the trails, the
summit, and return.
The Solstice Ski originated to give
people a different experience and provide a
social event for skiers of all ages.
In past years, the number of skiers has
ranged in size, with a record number of
32 participants. Warren Kelly remembers
Photo by ragnar robinson
A moonlight ski in La Ronge
Warren Kelly, Hilary Johnstone, Haley
Robinson, and Sid Robinson return from a
chilly -37 Winter Solstice Ski to the Summit
December 21, 2013. Ragnar Robinson (not
pictured) was the fifth skier in the event.
heading out on his own one winter, only to
be joined by another skier. They were the
only two participants that year.
The Solstice Ski takes place no matter
the weather conditions; in 2013, five skiers
participated in what was probably the
coldest event yet, with temperatures dipping to -37ºC.
Not many in the area ski at night, and
the Solstice Ski gives people the opportunity to see the different wildlife that emerges after dark and observe varying conditions from bright starlight to cloudy skies
on the longest night of the year.
Even the route is different for the
Winter Solstice Ski to the Summit: local
skiers usually ski clockwise on the trails,
but for this event they travel counterclockwise.
Traditionally, a fire is lit in the ski club’s
chalet before the skiers start the trek; hot
chocolate and pizza await those who brave
this chilly moonlight adventure.
7
Stained glass artist Connie Jo Smith
is inspired by the wild
As a lifelong resident of northern Manitoba, stained glass
artist Connie Jo Smith has no shortage of inspiration for her
work. Smith lives in Cranberry Portage, and the view from her
workshop faces the stunning First Cranberry Lake. Who could
ask for a better place to create art?
“Influenced by wildlife and the environment, my ideas are
generated from observing the local flora and fauna,” says
Smith. Connie’s pieces are all one of a kind, including soldered
stained glass and mosaics, and pieces can take 20 to 72 hours
to craft.
“I began working with stained glass over 10 years ago,
when I was given a lesson by a close friend for a birthday gift,”
Connie recalls. This gift, and first lesson, was the beginning of
Connie’s passion for creating artwork from glass.
“With mosaics, my ideas can develop and can change as I
see fit, thus letting the art change and develop along the way,”
Connie notes. “I enjoy taking ideas and creating them into a
one-of-a-kind piece of art.”
submitted photo
~ Shannon Smadella~
Connie Jo Smith on her lawn in Cranberry Portage, MB,
with her stained glass sign, “The Lone Wolf."
Smith’s work has received various accolades, including
awards at the Northern Juried Art Show and the Northern
Manitoba Trappers’ Festival. To learn more about Connie Jo
Smith and her artwork, visit www.blueheronstainedglass.net
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Band on the Run takes off
Photo by noelle drimmie
~ Libby Stoker-Lavelle ~
A newly formed band of local musicians took the stage at
Johnny’s Social Club on December 12 and 13, but although
Band on the Run was performing together for the first time, the
performers were all familiar faces from Flin Flon’s music scene.
The talented group included Susan Lethbridge and
C.C. Trubiak on vocals, Brent Lethbridge on guitar and vocals,
Erick Bergman on drums, guitar and vocals, Mark Kolt on keyboard, Mike Spencer on guitar and bass guitar, and Cottage North’s
own John Bettger on bass, back-up vocals, and drums.
Photo by daniel dillon
C.C. Trubiak, Susan Lethbridge and Erick Bergman on stage.
Band on the Run members include local musicians Mark Colt,
C.C. Trubiak, Mike Spencer, John Bettger, Susan Lethbridge,
Brent Lethbridge and Erick Bergman.
Each of the vocalists selected a few songs for the show, with
nods to artists ranging from Paul McCartney to Jimi Hendrix.
The result was a diverse performance that highlighted some
hidden talents among the band members.
A rapt audience loved Erick Bergman’s velvety rendition of
John Mayer’s “Gravity,” as well as C.C. Trubiak’s version of Neil
Young’s “Harvest,” for which he donned a jaunty cowboy shirt and
dedicated the song to “All the women I’ve ever loved,” earning him
plenty of cheers from the crowd.
~ Molly Gibson Kirby ~
Raziel Reid, who spent childhood summers in Thompson,
won the 2014 Governor General’s Literary Award in the children’s literature category for his young adult (YA) novel When Everything Feels like the Movies, published by Arsenal
Pulp Press in Vancouver.
The now-24-year-old Vancouver writer received the
$25,000 award on November 18.
The story was inspired by the murder of Lawrence “Larry”
Fobes King, who in 2008 was shot and murdered in his school
by a boy whom he had asked to be his Valentine.
Brian Lam, publisher for Arsenal Pulp Press, says Reid’s
novel is just the type of book they wanted to print.
“Raziel’s book is an honest, authentic portrayal of queer
youth,” said Lam.
Spending summer holidays in Thompson as a youth with
his granny, who had emphysema and couldn’t leave the house,
Reid says he filled the hours with stories.
“I would watch her shows with her, and because I was kind
Photo courtesy of the Thompson Citizen
National literary prize recipient
has Thompson ties
of a lonely, imaginative kid, I would continue the stories alone
in my room, writing the scenes and playing all the characters.
So, basically, when I was 10 I spent most of my time pretending I was Brooke Logan from The Bold and the Beautiful.”
Reid is currently working on a film script for
When Everything Feels like the Movies and will be travelling
to the United States in 2015 to launch the book.
Article excerpted with permission from The Thompson Citizen
9
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~ Libby Stoker-Lavelle ~
Jimmy Rankin is music royalty in Nova Scotia, best
known to many as a member of the Rankin Family Band,
a celtic-pop group that formed in the 1970s in Mabou,
Cape Breton and went on to achieve worldwide fame in
the 1990s.
Now a well-established solo musician, Jimmy Rankin
travelled throughout Saskatchewan and Manitoba this fall
as part of his Back Road Paradise Tour. He made a significant showing in the North with concerts in Snow Lake,
The Pas, and Thompson in early November. Snow Lake
writer Marc Jackson commented on the concert in a recent
story for the Flin Flon Reminder: “Over 150 patrons took
in Rankin’s November 6 Snow Lake show,” Jackson noted,
“and I’m sure no one left disappointed. Perhaps, like
myself, there were even a few new converts.”
Photo courtesy of the pas arts council
Maritime music heads North
Shirley Barbeau, Andrew Legeny, and Barbara Shaw-Ings of
The Pas Arts Council huddle in for a shot with visiting musician
Jimmy Rankin (second from left).
The first annual Flinty Fishing Derby comes to Bakers Narrows this April
~Libby Stoker-Lavelle~
Ice fishing enthusiasts in Flin Flon have
a good reason to hone their skills this winter: on April 12 2015, the Flin Flon Rotary
Club will hold the first annual Flinty Fish
Derby, an ice fishing tournament. The
derby will take place near Sally’s Beach, in
Bakers Narrows Provincial Park, on Lake
Athapapuskow, approximately 16 km south
of Flin Flon.
The event has been 15 years in the
making, as event co-chair and Rotarian
Glenn Smith explains. “It was something
we attempted 15 years ago as a fundraiser,
but with the Bill Bannock Classic in The
Pas, there was concern that we might
infringe on that event.” This year, the two
Rotary clubs found a way to share the
bounty by creating a partnership. The two
Rotary clubs will hold their tournaments
on the same weekend, with the Bill
Bannock Classic taking place on Saturday
and the Flinty Fish Derby on the Sunday.
Smith hopes that competitors travelling
for the event in The Pas will make a weekend of it and drive to Flin Flon for Sunday’s
event. “Last year, five or six Rotarians went
down to The Pas to help with their derby,
and we spoke to a lot of anglers there,” he
explains. “A lot of the people whom we
spoke to said they thought it would be a
great idea, and many said that they would
come for both.”
The first annual Flinty Fish Derby
will be held on Sunday, April 12
at Bakers Narrows Provincial Park
To encourage anglers to travel between
the two communities, there are special
prizes for those who enter both contests.
These incentives are in addition to the
prizes for anglers in the Flinty Fish Derby:
the first prize is $21,000 cash; 31 other
prizes include a 14-foot Lund boat and
return tickets for two from Flin Flon or
The Pas to Winnipeg.
Smith says the Rotary Club is hoping
for a minimum of 500 entries to this first
fishing derby; as a comparison, the Bill
Bannock event had 1,000 entries last year.
Entrance fees are $80 for a regular ticket
and $100 for an early bird ticket. Early bird
entrants will have their names entered into a
draw for a super hole – that’s a hole around
the outside of the circle, which gives competitors a distinct advantage.
The Flinty Fish Derby is a pricey
endeavour for the Flin Flon Rotary Club,
costing at least $30,000 to launch. Smith
notes that support from local merchants
has been outstanding, with over $50,000
in donated prizes and services so far.
Ultimately the goal for the event,
according to Smith, is multifold: the derby
will be a fundraiser for the Rotary Club,
which supports various community initiatives. The derby also promises to be a fun
event for locals in Flin Flon and surrounding areas. Finally, the tournament has the
potential to be a late-winter boost for Flin
Flon’s economy.
“The Bill Bannock Classic is not just a
fundraiser for The Pas Rotary Club,” explains
Smith. “It’s also an excellent event for the
community … it brings in far more out-oftown people than you might think. So we
thought, if we can get the benefit of a fundraiser for the Rotary Club, that’s great, but if
we can benefit the town by having a couple
days of tourism in the middle of non-tourism season, that’s a really good thing.”
In addition to the ice fishing tournament itself, the derby site will include a
concession, sponsor displays, a beer garden,
and—if the Flin Flon Rotary Club gets its
way—beautiful fishing weather.
Learn more about the Flinty Fishing
Derby by visiting the website at
www.flintyfishderby.com
11
Traditional healer
Chris Sawatzky
By Penny Byer
A Cree healer in
Thompson,
Chris Sawatzky shares
insights into why and
how traditional healing
practices still work in
our high-tech world.
photo by penny byer
Chris Sawatzky says the forest contains amazing gifts for health and healing. Some of the medicines are,
starting from top left: birch root, poplar buds, pine cones, Labrador leaves, yarrow, chaga, wild mint,
chokecherry tree and sweet flag.
12
Ron Byer’s right leg was swollen from
his knee to his toes. The skin was an
angry red, and hot to the touch. The leg
hurt when he put weight on it. Doctors
could not determine the cause, but suspected a severe infection. He had been on
intravenous antibiotics for 10 days, then
on pills for another 10 days. The medication reduced most of the swelling and
some of the redness, but the pain
remained. He was open to other options
when someone suggested he ask Chris
Sawatzky to take a look at it.
Chris Sawatzky is an Aboriginal healer. She wrapped Byer’s leg in thin layers
of dampened birch bark, saying prayers
in her native Cree language. She then ran
her hands over his leg, pulling at the
negative energies in the leg and flicking
them away. Byer, who was not especially
“into” holistic healing, was surprised to
feel a tingling sensation in his leg as
Sawatzky drew out the negative energies.
The next day, 50 per cent of the redness
was reduced to pink and most of the pain
was gone. And within a week, the leg was
nearly 100 per cent healed.
Do you ever wonder how Indigenous
people of our region could thrive for
thousands of years without the aid of
modern medicines and medical practices? Perhaps it was in large part due to a
natural and holistic approach taken to
health and wellness.
“The one amazing thing given to
all people is a beautiful medicine
within each of us—that’s our
inner spirit, our inner state of being.”
“All pharmaceuticals come from plants,” said Sawatzky. “But in
modern pharmaceuticals, there are too many additives that break
down the actual medicinal value. Plants, in their natural state, that
come straight from the earth and that are harvested and prepared
properly, do not rot and their healing properties remain intact.”
The forest is our pharmacy
All through the north, there is an abundance of plants with
healing qualities. “The forest is our pharmacy,” said Sawatzky.
“There are plants that help us cut down our sugars, fight cancer,
reduce high blood pressure and restore chemical imbalances that
affect our mental well-being.
“But the one absolutely amazing thing given to all people is a
beautiful medicine ‘within’ each of us – that’s our inner spirit, our
inner state of being. If we do not learn to look after that, then
diseases have a much easier time entering our being. And the result
is a health system that is overfilled with people with illnesses such
as diabetes, cancer and high blood pressure.”
Sawatzky said people often have difficulty understanding the
concept of ‘within.'
“We are so used to letting our mind control our actions and
thoughts,” she explained. “But the concept of ‘within’ is more your
spiritual state of awareness. It’s the place inside of you where Creator,
Great Spirit or God resides. There is a transcendence that opens
up the door to that place to let your spirit take more control, and
to help you achieve a balance between the mind and the spirit.
“Everything starts from ‘within,’ from the moment you wake
up. You can allow anger to rule your day, or resentment, or the
past. But why should you allow that? You can choose to meet life
on your terms, feel your God or Creator or Allah, or whatever you
choose to call him or her, within you, and not as an external
being.”
The tree was a result of energy
Sawatzky grew up learning both the Seven Sacred Teachings
of her Cree culture and the Ten Commandments from the Bible.
Her parents used a combination of their natural surroundings
and biblical stories to instill in her the teachings. She was mesmerized by nature and would often gaze at a tree for hours,
wondering how tall it would grow, what was inside, how it got
its start. When she realized that the tree was a result of energy—
the energy of a seed sprouting and growing—she got her first
impression of the spirit within.
But, like so many teenagers, Sawatzky wanted to learn about
the outside world. She moved to Toronto, where she married.
photo by penny byer
Chris Sawatzky has been given two additional names.
Her spirit name is Woman Who Walks the Path of the
Bear. In the Seven Sacred Teachings, the bear
indicates courage. Another name given to Sawatzky is
Where the Sun Rises from Medicine Woman.
“I acknowledge all my names, as they are all part of
who I am. The names individually are just part of my
whole self,” she explained.
Eventually moved to Thompson and entered a second marriage.
Both relationships were full of negative energies and destructive
behaviours.
“I was still searching for peace, but was looking outside
myself,” Sawatzky recalled. “I would say, ‘God, why me? I can’t
raise my children in this.’”
During this period, Sawatzky had a dream that disturbed her.
“I kept going back to that dream. I knew it meant something, but
my life was so full of fear, I could not interpret it.” It was about
this time she first heard of the sweat lodge. “I was nervous of
going because I had heard it was a ‘devil place,’” she recalled.
“The mind created that.”
13
Meadow Lake
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20 miles north of Thompson
Search: Mystery Mountain Winter Park
Where all our profits
stay in the community
Cooper says:
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North of 53 Consumers Co-operative!”
www.mysterymountain.ca
We offer only the freshest choices
in groceries, produce, meats, deli
selections and baked goods, and
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north of 53 Consumers Co-operative
Mon-Fri 8am-8pm
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Saturday 8am-6pm
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Sunday 12pm-6pm
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14
Harvesting forest medicine is
not a simple matter of plucking
a plant out of the earth.
“Consider that every plant and
every animal sacrifices its life to
sustain our life,” said Sawatzky.
“They do this with no
judgement. Every plant, animal,
insect, drop of water and
molecule of air we breathe are
all connected.
It is very humbling.
"And so, we begin to harvest
plants first by offering tobacco
as a thank you to the Creator.
We talk to the plant and explain
why we need it, so the plant
knows our intention. In this
way, the plant sacrifices its life
so we can continue ours.”
The journey as healer begins
When she went to her first sweat, Sawatzky was advised to close her eyes
and pray. And that was the beginning of her journey as a healer.
“Learning began one step at a time,” she said. “You need to allow your
spirit to come out. The spirit is humble. It doesn’t fight anyone. Your mind
is way too big and busy looking at things on the outside. It likes to be centre stage in the drama. Your spirit waits. When you can calm your mind so
you can think with your spirit, the positive energy is able to flow freely
within your body. Eventually, the energy can flow out of your body and you
are able to help others.”
Sawatzky said that once you have opened the door to the spirit, it recognizes your body has toxins and gives you the choice to rid yourself of
toxins. “Then it’s time to go to the pharmacy,” she smiled, indicating the
forest pharmacy. “In healing, the plants can do their part, but there is only
so much they can do if your spirit door is still closed or even part closed.”
Although she is well-advanced in holistic and traditional healing,
Sawatzky feels there is an untapped opportunity in bringing together traditional and modern approaches to healthcare. “Western medicine and
Aboriginal medicine each have their own specialties,” she explained.
“Western medicine, with its technology, can see inside the body and pinpoint where problems lie. Aboriginal medicine helps more generally. So if
you combine the Western technology to pinpoint the problem and
Aboriginal holistic medicine to help heal from within, you would have
some very powerful outcomes.”
The Seven Sacred Teachings
honour basic virtues that are
central to a full and healthy life.
They are: love, respect,
courage, honesty, wisdom,
humility and truth.
These teachings are
foundational to many
Indigenous cultures in Canada.
15
The Art of Goal Setting, Part II
Going after your dreams
By Shannon Smadella
In last year’s January issue of Cottage North, former
Miss Canada Shannon Smadella explored the subject of
goal-setting. She shared insights from prominent individuals
including Elvis Stojko, Kurt Browning, Rick Hansen, and
David Joyner. Smadella returns with a sequel, interviewing
people from around the world whose actions have inspired her.
From competing in an Ironman Triathlon in a wheelchair,
to signing with a major record label at the age of 22,
these individuals have achieved success, and celebrity,
on their own terms. We hope their words inspire you.
Success. Desire. Intention. Achievement.
Fulfillment. Happiness.
Deepak Chopra states in his book, The
Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire, “Success
in life could be defined as the continued
expansion of happiness and the progressive
realization of worthy goals.”
For most people, setting and achieving
goals is done in the pursuit of happiness.
Therefore, happiness equals fulfillment in
achieving an aspect or goal that derives
from an intention deep within our souls.
So how do we go about this process,
and navigate our way though life to achieve
what will bring us happiness?
Or furthermore, how do we overcome
an unexpected obstacle to those achievements?
Over the past month, I’ve had the
privilege of speaking with several individuals who have achieved remarkable things in
their lives. I’ve asked each of these people
to share their thoughts on setting goals and
following your dreams. May the following
insights give you a good start to the new
year, and assist you in the pursuit of your
own happiness.
A few of the biggest lessons that I’ve learned about setting and attaining goals:
•
•
16
Be ready for things to not
go as expected – most of the time
your goal won’t go exactly as
planned, so be ready for this,
and accept making modifications
to the journey.
Some of the best and most
meaningful goals are ones
that inspire and help others.
•
•
Never give up and don’t let
anyone tell you that you can’t
do something. Anytime you do
anything great, you will have
people who will try to bring you
down. Keep your head high,
and go after what you want.
Understand that your soul is
amazing and if you truly desire
something and it aligns with
your life purpose, anything is
possible. Keep your mind on
the goal, and things will come
into your life to assist you.
•
Be grateful to the people
and things that come
into your life, to keep you
aligned on your path.
Dick Hoyt, 74, is a retired Lieutenant Colonel who served in
the military for 35 years. Rick Hoyt, 52, a graduate of Boston
University with a degree in special education, is Dick’s son.
Rick was born in 1962 as a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral
palsy and as a non-speaking person—but Rick’s mind and spirit
have always been strong. His family supported his quest for independence and inclusion in community, sports, education and the
workplace, culminating with his graduation from Boston
University. Today, Rick and Dick Hoyt are triathletes, motivational speakers and Ironman Hall of Fame Inductees.
Rick Hoyt uses a wheelchair. That has not stopped him from
living a full and amazing life. He, along with his dad, Dick,
formed “Team Hoyt” 35 years ago.
“We’ve had a lot of goals and we’ve had a lot of obstacles,”
explains Dick Hoyt. “When we applied for the Boston marathon
the first time, they turned us down. What they said was that we
had to qualify in Rick’s age group, and at the time Rick was in
his 20s and I was in my 40s, and I think that was their way of
telling us that we wouldn’t be able to do it, because they thought
there was no way a 40-year-old man could push his 20-year-old
son in the Boston Marathon and run under two hours and 50
minutes. So we ended up proving that to them by running the
Marine Corps marathon in two hours and 40.”
Rick and Dick have now run over 32 Boston Marathons. In
fact, together they have competed in over 1,100 athletic events in
the last 35 years, including 71 marathons and 252 triathlons, six
of which were Ironman events. An Ironman is a gruelling longdistance race that includes a 3.86-km swim, a 180.25-km bicycle
ride and a 42.2-km run, raced in that order and without a break.
Throughout their lives, the Hoyt Family has encountered various obstacles, but they’ve always found a way to overcome them.
“It was the same thing with the Ironman Triathlon, and even
getting Rick into public school. They said no, he won’t be able to
learn. We met with some engineers with the University in Boston
and we talked to them and they said the same thing, no he won’t
be able to learn, and we told the engineers to tell Rick a joke, and
they told him a joke and he ended up laughing and they said,
‘Maybe there is something there.’ They said, ‘If you give us
$5,000, we will build a communicating device for Rick.’ This was
45 years ago, and at that time $5,000 was a lot of money.”
The Hoyt family raised the funds, and the engineers built the
Tufts Interactive Communicator (TIC). “So we took this computer/communicator to the school board and they took Rick in a
room and were asking him questions and he was answering them
correctly, so they had to accept him into public school,” Hoyt
explains. “So those were some of our biggest goals, but above all
our biggest goal was to get Rick into regular schools with everybody else. We knew he was very smart, he understood everything
we were saying. That’s when we taught him the alphabet and the
numbers and then tried to get him in school and it ended up
working. Same thing with our running career.”
These days, Dick Hoyt travels the country, educating the public
about disability awareness and promoting the Team Hoyt motto:
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Rick and Dick Hoyt
Rick & Dick Hoyt celebrate the completion of thier first Boston Marathon in 1981.
When we applied for the Boston marathon the
first time, they turned us down. They thought
there was no way a 40-year-old man could push
his 20-year-old son in the Boston Marathon and
run under two hours and 50 minutes. So we
ended up proving that to them by running the
Marine Corps marathon in two hours and 40.
Yes You Can. He and his family have seen an impact from their
efforts in the public’s attitude toward people with disabilities.
When talking to Hoyt about what drives him, his response was
no surprise, “Rick is what drives me. He sits in a wheelchair. He
can’t use his arms or legs, but his mind is so bright and he wanted
to be just like everyone else, and he loves sports. To me, he is the
athlete and I’m just loaning him my arms and legs so that he can
compete. He’s the first one in the world to do all of these things.
He’s got so many awards including the distinguished graduate
award from the Boston University. We work together as a family.
We took all of the nos and turned them into yesses.”
Hoyt shared his number-one tip for goal setting and overcoming the nos: “It’s our motto: Yes You Can. There isn’t anything you
can’t do as long as you make up your mind to do it.
“There’s no such word as no,” Hoyt explains. “When Rick was
born, the doctors told us, ‘Forget Rick, put him away.’ We said,
‘No’. Today Rick is 52 years old and you can see all of the things
that he’s accomplished in his short life.”
Learn more about the Hoyt family on their website at
www.teamhoyt.com.
17
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Bif Naked
Bif Naked is a celebrated punk musician and songwriter as
well as a cancer survivor. She is a tireless activist and was
recently named ambassador for the organization AIDS
Vancouver.
“With the glorious promise of the New Year comes the
hope and wish for newness, and goal-setting is natural. Our
keen ability to motivate ourselves by hanging logic and reason
on the turning of the year forms a special incentive.
“When I set new goals it is generally after much soulsearching and honesty, knowing where I could improve myself,
my activities or my actions. Having a new year to hitch my
wagon to has helped me, year after year, better myself and I
really love new year’s resolutions. I have overcome many of my insecurities and fears in the
past by faith in myself, my abilities, and my sincere optimism.
This type of blind faith never lets me down, even when I
stumble. Knowing this, and being fearless about my goals and
intentions, it has always been absolutely impossible to fail,
because my faith and hopes are unshakeable. Every new year
brings new victories, no matter how small they seem.”
Bif Naked (aka Beth Torbert) has a strong connection to
Manitoba, having lived in The Pas, Dauphin and Winnipeg in
her youth. Find out more about Bif Naked at bifnaked.com.
Bif Naked
Chantal Kreviazuk is a Canadian singer-songwriter who was
born in Winnipeg. She was a child prodigy at the piano, winning
competitions and receiving classical education on piano as well as
voice from a young age.
Kreviazuk began writing her own pop songs and was signed
by Sony Canada at the age of 22 years old. Kreviazuk has won
two Juno Awards for best female artist and best pop/adult album
for Colour Moving and Still.
“People experienced and wise have described to me an artist/
craftsman’s incubation period ... or a period in their cycle where
they sort of keep their head down and do what they do best. I
have myself gone for it in this respect … [the] next thing you
know, you look up and everything is falling into its place.
I think work ethic is a great goal to have; always putting
our craft into practice as much as humanly possible ... hence
manifesting that optimal self.
I can say that I fail constantly at my art form. I mean constantly. Constantly I am rejected, my work is rejected. But
that’s okay because every time I show up, I get another chance
to learn and expand and PRACTICE, so that the one time
everything comes together, I kind of know what I am doing
and feel confident to go for it. It only takes one triumph! Just
keep on building.”
Learn more about Chantal Kreviazuk chantalkreviazuk.com.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Chantal Kreviazuk
Chantal Kreviazuk
18
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Simon Ibell
Simon Ibell
Simon Ibell is a rare disease crusader, human potential consultant and motivational
speaker. Ibell founded the iBellieve Foundation, which aims to find a cure for MPS II
(Hunter syndrome) and 50 related lysosomal storage disorders.
MPS II is a progressively debilitating condition that inhibits the body’s ability to
metabolize sugar molecules. It affects one in 100,000 to one in 150,000 males.
A MPS II patient himself, Ibell initiated the iBellieve Foundation when he started his
Bike 4 MPS charity bike ride through Vancouver Island in 2002. Ibell also founded
Be Fair 2 Rare, a campaign which raises awareness, funds and advocacy for the rare
disease community in Canada.
“Goal-setting is essential for success: personal and professional. I believe goal-setting is
an ongoing process, which requires frequent reviews to ensure the defined path to success
within the deadlines we set. These reviews also allow for readjustment for any unexpected
changes and/or enhancements. As a rare disease sufferer, continuous goal setting has been
integral to my success in tackling each and every obstacle I have faced in life. Goal setting
has allowed me to live a life of inclusion where people look at my ability not my disability, and has given me the ability to turn each obstacle into a stepping stone.”
Learn more about Simon Ibell’s foundation: www.ibellieve.com.
Kimberly Moore is a humanitarian, philanthropist and founder of The Echelon Club,
Kimberly Moore Foundation, and Keeping Harmony Alive. In October 2009, Moore was
appointed by President Malam Bacai Sanha of the Republic of Guinea Bissau, West Africa as
the first Goodwill Ambassador to the United States of America for that nation. Moore is best
known for her Adopt-a-Letter program, which answers the wishes of over 30,000 children in
need.
“I am a firm believer that in order to set goals you have to have a purpose. Before I set a
goal, I try to think: ‘how [does] this goal positively affect others and how can I use this to help/
inspire other people?’ This is what drives my passion and keeps me enthusiastic on a daily basis.
Envisioning the joy that my goal brings to others keeps me excited because it enables me to care
about my goals. It’s important that your goals come from the heart. Taking a moment to be
grateful and appreciative allows me to stay positive and eager to create my action plan.
“Some people say, ‘Keep your goals small and realistic,’ but I say, ‘Dream big and keep them
realistic.’ Set tiny goals every day. I try to think of myself standing at the bottom of a ladder
and my goal is staring at me from the top … even if I take one step a day, I know that I am
moving towards the right direction and eventually will get there. However, if I get stuck, I know
it’s okay because some days will go faster than others.”
Learn more about Kimberley Moore and Adopt a Letter at www.adoptaletter.org.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Baroness Kimberly Moore
Baroness Kimberly Moore
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Final thoughts
The author, Shannon Smadella (left) with Marc Paul Gosselar and
Olympian Christina Smith on the final day of their 40-day, 4,000-km
charity cycling tour across Canada and the US. Goal accomplished.
As the new year commences, a chance to renew and revitalize is present. This invigorating fresh start is a chance to review, revive and retrieve
what in life makes us smile. Whether your goal or feat is large or small,
going after what is important to you in life is something everyone
deserves.
Anything worth achieving will always have hindrances along the way,
and it is through persevering and persisting, in spite of these barriers,
that the soul becomes stronger.
I dedicate this article and send out thoughts and prayers to everyone
out there who may be going through any speed bumps and needs that
little extra energy and inspiration. Know that you have it in yourself to
do what you set your mind to, and go after your dreams.
Happy New Year, and Namaste.
19
Evolution of an unexpected artist
James Dean
By Amanda Emsland
Dean’s "Edwards Avenue" highlights the beauty of one of The Pas’ main streets.
Tapping into his latent
talents is a continuous
journey for local artist
James Dean,
one which innocently took root during a
simple moment of father-son bonding in
the family’s living room. Picking up a
pencil to doodle alongside his son
Matthew, whom Dean refers to as a “real
artist,” Dean unknowingly opened a doorway to a new sense of himself as an artist in
this world. Veering from his norm as a
public health officer with a background in
sciences, this developing sense of self has
taken Dean down an unintended but
seemingly natural path.
20
Photo courtesy of the Sam Waller Museum
Unguarded Moments, Dean’s premiere
solo exhibit, is currently on display at the
Sam Waller Museum. The show opened in
late November, with close to 70 community members joining Dean at the opening
reception to honour his work.
Photo by Amanda Emsland, courtesy Opasquia Times
Fellow artist Avery Ascher chats with Dean
at the opening night of Unguarded Moments.
Originally from Ontario, James Dean,
and wife Elma, who also have a daughter,
Charlotte, have been creating a life for
themselves in The Pas since the 1980s.
Since then, they have formed a community
of people that Dean refers to as his family.
Integrating into the local art scene was
a gradual process. Through entries in the
Northern Juried and Trappers’ Festival art
shows, Dean began to build his budding
talent and his confidence. A humble artist,
he took the criticism he received and used
it to improve his work. Dean shares he is
“starting to get comfortable with the idea
of being recognized as an artist.”
Earning a reputation as a “fish guy”
with his earlier work propelled Dean to
branch out, eventually morphing a love for
plein air painting and human subjects into
an eclectic style which continues to evolve. From familiar
scenes of northern life to the street corners of New York,
the Unguarded Moments show is a retroflection of James
Dean’s body of work.
Quoting from the Group of Seven, Dean describes the
inspiration that living in the North provides: “The North
is a continuous blaze of enthusiasm.”
Dean’s curiosity for art stays alive through workshops
and connecting local artists through his role in The Pas
Arts Guild. Describing the North as “a sponge of work that
needs to get done, portrayed, caught on canvas,” Dean says
the only factor setting him back is time.
James Dean’s show will be exhibited at the Sam
Waller Museum in The Pas until January 30, 2015.
Photo by Amanda Emsland, courtesy of the Opasquia Times
James Dean recalls that he was once known as a “fish guy” for his
choice of subjects, including this painting, "Lake Trout."
687-4429 • 37 Main Street, Flin Flon, MB
Photo courtesy the Sam Waller Museum
Painter James Dean has lived in The Pas since 1986.
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Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, LES MIZ is an
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22
Above: Teams coming into the Canadian Challenge finish line. Top right: Musher Sid Robinson as he completes the 2014 Canadian Challenge Sled Dog Race
in La Ronge in sub-zero weather. Robinson raced in the the 12-dog category. Bottom right: One sled dog curls up during rest time.
Canadian Challenge
A Northern Saskatchewan Classic
Throughout
Saskatchewan, volunteers
are preparing trails for the
annual Canadian
Challenge Sled Dog Race.
This world-class sporting event is the
nation’s longest sled dog race that starts,
runs and finishes in Canada.
The race begins with a dramatic mass
start at noon on February 24 in Prince
Albert. The event includes a 517-km 12-dog
race, a 320-km eight-dog race, and a 117km junior race. In recent years, a new 117km open-category race, open to mushers of
Photos and story by Valerie G. Barnes-Connell
any age, was added to accommodate a wider
range of participants. Teams in the junior
and open races can have four to six dogs.
The 12-dog and eight-dog races are
qualifiers for the Iditarod, a punishing
1,000 km sled dog race that takes place in
Alaska. To qualify, mushers cannot have
any assistance such as a handler in the
Canadian Challenge, and along with their
dogs, they must remain outdoors for the
entire race.
The shorter race trails lead to Elk
Ridge, while teams on the longer race trail
will travel to La Ronge. The 12-dog teams
complete a northern circuit through Stanley
Mission and Grandmother’s Bay and finish
with an awards breakfast in La Ronge.
The race is volunteer-led and sponsored
by Gateway North Sled Dog Race
Association Inc, an organization based in
Prince Albert. The organization, which was
formed in 1994, aims to promote traditional sled dog racing in Saskatchewan.
Over the years, the Canadian Challenge
Race has attracted mushers from across
Canada, the United States, Australia,
Germany, Serbia and Belgium.
The Canadian Challenge gives a nod
to the province’s history, as the route
follows one of the earliest known transportation corridors located in central
Saskatchewan. The race route is similar to
the one historically used by trappers,
the North West Mounted Police, and
23
Canadian Challenge Routes
12-Dog Race 517 km
Prince Albert – Anglin Lake – Elk Ridge – MacLennan River – Harold’s Cabin
Fafard’s Cabin – La Ronge – Grandmother’s Bay – Stanley Mission – La Ronge
8-Dog Race
322 km
Prince Albert – Anglin Lake – Elk Ridge – Harold’s Cabin – Fafard’s Cabin – La Ronge
Junior Race 115 km
Prince Albert – Anglin Lake – Elk Ridge
Open Race
115 km
Prince Albert – Anglin Lake – Elk Ridge
One sled dog peeks out from the sled to see what is going on.
First Nations people to travel between Prince Albert and
La Ronge.
Weather conditions make a difference to the mushers and
dogs and cause variances in race outcomes each year. During
years with minimal snowfall, mushers find it difficult to train
with their dogs, and work on the trails becomes harder.
According to the official rule book for the event, “The
race will continue under all but the most severe trail and
weather conditions. Mushers must come prepared to run in
cold, wind or storm, in varying snow conditions, and over
bare ground sections if necessary.” In 2014, frigid temperatures and poor ice conditions forced a change in the route for
the 12-dog teams, cutting off the northernmost communities
from the race.
The Canadian Challenge is volunteer-led, including the
board of directors, who come from every walk of life. A team
of volunteer veterinarians, who monitor the dogs throughout
the races, are critical, as are the race marshals and drivers.
Other volunteer roles include trail crews—the people
who scout, punch, clear, and groom the hundreds of kilometres of trail—and organizers at the mass start and finish lines,
checkpoints and road safety crossings.
Spectators can track the progress of the mushers through the race online through
an interactive map on the Canadian Challenge website
24
In order to qualify for the International Iditarod race, mushers can
have no assistance, and teams must stay outside for the whole race.
These dogs curl up during their mandatory rest time.
A team racing up Highway 2 when it was part of the route. Teams now come up through the bush into La Ronge.
The Gateway North Sled Dog Association Inc. aims to connect the younger generation to the sport through the junior race,
for mushers 12 to 17, added in 2007.
Another aspect of the Canadian Challenge is the educational
opportunities offered through SaskEnergy School Tours. Through
this program, Gateway North Sled Dog Association Inc. coordinates
requests from schools with local mushers to have them provide
classroom presentations on the sport, where students can meet the
musher and their dogs and see and touch the equipment.
Canadian Challenge organizers have provided GPS trail maps
Need Heat?
of the race routes on the event website in an effort to encourage
spectators to follow the race more closely. The maps include
information on the best places to watch the race, especially at
points where the trail runs along or intersects with the highway.
Travelling with sled-dog teams gives spectators an opportunity to
participate in the excitement of the races and understand the
challenging conditions that the teams face in this uniquely
northern sport.
To learn more about volunteering, racing, or watching the
Canadian Challenge, visit www.canadianchallenge.com
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25
“Skateparks allow youth barrier-free
recreation. [They allow] them to
develop and master skills, engage in
physical activity, and socialize.
Much the same way arenas become a
“community place,” skateparks do as
well, in the modern community.”
— #newpark 623 Planning Study
Concrete
dreams
The #newpark623
campaign in The Pas
By Libby Stoker-Lavelle
photos by Kelly Graham, courtesy of Funky Threadz
26
While skateboarding culture is alive and well in
the northern community of The Pas, the town’s skate
park itself is not quite so healthy.
Jerome Conaty, owner of local retail store Funky
Threadz, is the project manager of a collaborative
initiative to build a new skate park for the town.
“It’s decaying. There are parts of the park that are
falling apart and it’s becoming a bit of an eyesore,”
says Conaty of the current park, which was built in
2003.
According to Conaty, the skate park was one of
the first built in northern Manitoba. It was built on
a relatively small budget of $30,000, by using existing asphalt for the materials. At the time the affordable price was a benefit, but today the asphalt has
degraded considerably, resulting in a surface that is
too rough for skateboarders’ needs, though it still
works for BMX bikes or scooters.
Paint used to cover up graffiti over the years has also
made some surfaces slippery, creating a safety issue.
Top left Garrett Lavallee, now skateboard youth liaison with
the new park’s design team, is shown here at The Pas’ skate
park in 2010.
Left A skateboarder shows off his skills at the 2010 Northern
Manitoba Skateboard and BMX Competition in The Pas
Right Jerome Conaty congratulates a winner at the 2013
Northern Manitoba Skateboard and BMX Competition
in Flin Flon.
january - february
“It is kind of deteriorating. It is dated and aged,” says Amber
Whitehead, recreation director for the Town of The Pas.
“Some of the boxes are coming apart, and they have to be
patched. It’s aged well, though, and it’s met its purpose—over the
years, lots of kids have used it.”
The current park was built using a modular system that “went
out of date right around the time it was built,” according to
Conaty. Local youth of various ages regularly use the skate park
space on skateboards, BMX bikes and scooters, and some compete in regional competitions, many of which are organized by
Conaty’s store.
When asked why he decided to take this project on, Conaty
says, “It’s what I do. We needed a park, and nobody else was
spearheading it.”
The plan is still evolving for the project, which has been
named #newpark623. A team of youth is working on designs for
a new park, which would likely be built with concrete, a more
durable building material than asphalt.
Three community groups have been collaborating on the
project to date: Kelsey Recreation Commission, The Pas Families
Building a Better Community Inc, and The Pas Community
Renewal Corporation. Ultimately, though, Conaty insists, “its
completely a youth-driven project. All of us old people are just
assisting them with their voice.”
At the end of December, Conaty and fellow volunteers published a planning study which outlines possible plans for the initiative, addresses concerns about the skate park, and analyzes
results from a student survey. In the survey, 617 students from
local schools responded to questions about the skate park. When
asked the question, “Do you feel the current skatepark is in need
to be upgraded?” 87 per cent of respondents answered, “Yes.”
Main Phone
(204) 687-7527
Emergency
(204) 687-3221
Emergency 2
(204) 271-3208
Have a great winter ...
stay safe!
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Flin Flon, MB
www.flinfloninsurance.ca
Wishing you a prosperous New Year!
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28
Photo by Sara Francoeur, courtesy of Funky Threadz
Conaty’s youngest son, Maddex, tries some new moves at a skating demo/workshop at
The Pas’ skate park in 2012.
Site selection
Seventy-eight per cent of the respondents to the project survey stated that they
liked the current location of the skate park,
mainly due to its proximity to their schools,
a local grocery store, and their homes.
However, there are some hurdles to
overcome in regards to securing a site for a
new skate park. While the current skate
park area is the most logical location, the
site, which is owned by the Town of the Pas
and operated by Kelsey Recreation, is part
of a recreational area shared by two schools,
Scott Bateman Middle School (SBMS) and
Margaret Barbour Collegiate Institute
(MBCI). As such, there are limitations on
the skate park’s use.
“Nobody’s allowed to use the park during the [school] day,” says Conaty, which is
a problem for many youth who want to use
the park during those times.
Other locations have been considered
in the same general area, and Kelsey School
Division has been cooperating with community leaders in the efforts to find a solution that works for everyone.
Doug Long, superintendent of the
Kelsey School Division, explains, “We are
at the beginning stage of working through
these things. Meetings are planned with
Jerome Conaty for the new year to discuss
his findings from the survey; and with
Kelsey Recreation to outline common
photos by Kelly Graham, courtesy of Funky Threadz
Lorne Rushton competes in the 2010 Northern Manitoba
Skateboard & BMX Championship in The Pas.
issues and discuss the shared use of the
recreational area that includes the skate
park, running track, baseball diamond,
soccer field, and basketball court.
Jerome Conaty hopes that the policies
around the park area’s use can be “tweaked”
to better balance the needs of the school
with the needs of skate park users.
Above all, Conaty, Long, and Whitehead
all agree that the skate park adds significant
value to the community.
In Whitehead’s opinion, the skate park
is an important resource for youth who are
interested in more independent forms of
recreation. She has seen the benefits in her
own family, as her son is an avid BMX-bike
rider. “It keeps them out of trouble,” she
says. “They are busy, they are having fun,
and they are perfecting their skills. They’ll
practice over and over again until they get
it perfect. My son would be out there 10
hours a day. As long as there’s light out,
he’s there.”
Anyone who has watched a local competition can tell you that the results speak
for themselves. “It’s amazing what they can
do,” says Whitehead. “From watching our
kids, and the skills that they are developing, you can see that they have kind of
outgrown our little park.”
Next steps
While the site logistics get sorted out,
the next big steps for the #newpark623
team include designing the new park and
raising the funds to build it.
For the design, numerous skateboarders
who grew up in The Pas have stepped up to
the plate to help out.
“We have a full team working on
potential designs,” says Conaty. Major
players include senior designers Graham
Constant, Waka Whitecloud, and Lachi
MacLean; skateboard course design team
Justin Goulding and Shane McNevin;
Ryan Bourque, on BMX Course Design;
Garrett Lavallee, skateboard youth liaison;
and Lorne Rushton, BMX Youth Liaison.
A growing youth committee will be weighing in on the design as well.
As far as funding is concerned, several
thousand dollars have been raised through
community events, including nearly
$3,000 from an art auction held in
November. While the cost of the park will
depend on the size and scope of the
design, Conaty estimates that the project
will cost at least $250,000, and the longer
it takes to get started, the higher that price
will rise.
In the meantime, skateboarders,
BMX-bikers, and other skate park-goers in
The Pas will just have to keep practising
their skills, as they wait for their dream
park to become a reality.
To read the #newpark623 planning
study, or learn more about this initiative,
visit the #newpark623 Facebook page.
29
Exploring a Flin Flon phenomenon
The Hockey Factory
By Morley Naylor
Those who have spent significant time
in this city are all too familiar with the connection between our community and the
game of hockey. Chances are that when you
tell someone that you are from Flin Flon,
the subject of hockey will pop up. It seems,
at times, it rivals or exceeds the raison d’etre
of our community and surrounding area:
hard rock mining, mainly in the base
metals copper and zinc.
A stroll through the Whitney Forum
quickly reveals the pride we take in our
hockey accomplishments and the personalities behind the famous jerseys hung in
the rafters. Of course, the Junior Bombers
are the mainstay, but not the only product
of this hockey community.
Famous prospector Tom Creighton was
managing the local team in 1927-28 before
the railroad arrived in September 1928.
These were the beginnings of the “hockey
factory” which produced teams, players,
builders, and executives that would fill the
history books.
The locals captured the 1938
Saskatchewan Senior Hockey League
Championship in 1938 with local wellknowns like Sid Brown, Slim Holdaway,
Wally Warnick, Freddie Bowman, Mike
Nowazek, and Buddy Simpson. Notably,
Sid Abel and Jimmie Skinner were on the
team, and they went on to fantastic careers
with the Detroit Red Wings.
The 1956-57 capture of the Memorial
Cup by the Junior Bombers with the likes
of Ted Hampson, Mel Pearson, George
Konik, George Wood, and Paddy Ginnell
put Flin Flon on the hockey map forever.
And how about those Flin Flon Warriors,
Abbreviations guide
AHL ��American Hockey League
CHL��Central Hockey League
CAHA�� Canadian Amateur Hockey Association
CPHL�� Central Professional Hockey League
30
All photos these four pages courtesy of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
The Wall at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg honours teams that have won championships at all levels of
hockey and who are recognized as members of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame. The 1957 Flin Flon
Bombers hold a place there as Canadian Junior Champions winners of the 1957 Memorial Cup.
who captured the Canadian Intermediate
Hockey championship in 1965 with stars
such as Don Donaldson, Dave Rainville,
George Chigol, Tom Davie, Vic and Ernie
Poirier, Jack Turner, Cliff Lennartz and
George Allard?
Our present-day edition of the Bombers
remains competitive under Coach/GM
Mike Reagan, and the team is off to a good
start again this season. We wish them well,
with the full recognition that they have a
huge tradition to uphold.
We decided to dedicate an article to this
worthy cause and selected individuals to
feature here, with the criteria that they
must have been inducted in to the Manitoba
Hockey Hall of Fame (MHHF) and born
in Flin Flon and/or spent a considerable
length of time involved in hockey locally.
Of course, there are many individuals
whom our readers may feel should be recognized for their accomplishments over the
years, but these individuals are not in the
MHHF. Maybe it’s time to get on the
bandwagon and nominate these prospects
for admission. Either way, please join us for
an interesting look at Flin Flon’s hockey
credentials.
EPHL�� Eastern Professional Hockey League
IHL ��International Hockey League
MAHA�� Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association
MHHF��Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
MJHL�� Manitoba Junior Hockey League
MVP�� Most Valuable Player
NCAA�� (US.) National College Athletic Association
NHL ��National Hockey League
SJHL�� Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
WCHL�� Western Canada Hockey League
WCJHL��Western Canada Junior Hockey League
WHA ��World Hockey Association
WHL �� Western Hockey League
Players
born in
Flin Flon
BOBBY CLARKE is a Flin Flon hockey icon who rose up through the local
minor hockey system and starred with the Junior Bombers. He won the MJHL
scoring title in 1967 and led the WCJHL in scoring in 1968 and 1969. In 197273 he was the first expansion team player to record a 100-point season. Although
Clarke was only 23 at the time, Fred Shero recognized his leadership ability and
appointed him captain of the Philadelphia Flyers. Clarke won three Hart
Trophies, the Lester B. Pearson Trophy and the Masterton and Selke Trophies.
He was a key contributor to the Flyers’ two Stanley Cup Championships in 1974
and 1975. He played 15 seasons and 1,144 games in the NHL, scored 358 goals,
had 852 assists for 1,210 points, and was named to four NHL All-Star Teams.
DEAN EVASON played junior hockey in
ERIC NESTERENKO’s career as a right
winger spanned 20 NHL seasons, five with
the Toronto Maple Leafs and 15 with the
Chicago Blackhawks. He played 1219 games,
scored 250 goals, 324 assists for 574 points.
In 124 playoff games, he scored 13 goals and
24 assists for 37 points. Toronto sent him to
the Winnipeg Warriors for the 1955-56 season, where he helped win the WHL championship and Edinburgh Trophy. He was part of the 1961 Stanley
Cup championship Blackhawks team.
AL HAMILTON played defence for the
VAUGHN KARPAN grew up in
The Pas and played junior hockey with the
Brandon Wheat Kings and New Westminster
Royals. He scored 98 goals and 169 points
in 102 games with the University of
Manitoba Bisons. Karpan played 213
international games for Canada including
the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo and the
1988 Olympics in Calgary.
GEORGE KONIK captained his home-
ERNIE WAKELY, a goaltender, won the
GERRY HART played defence for his
DUNC McCALLUM played both juve-
the WHL with Spokane and Kamloops, finishing second in scoring in 1982-83 with 164
points. In 1983-84 the Kamloops centre registered 137 points and was selected to the WHL
first all-star team. He played on the Canadian
Junior National Team in 1984 and the Canadian
National Club in 1997. Drafted by Washington
in 1982, he then played for the Hartford Whalers,
San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars and Calgary Flames. He finished his
NHL career in 1996 with 803 games played, 139 goals and 233 assists.
1966 Memorial Cup Champions, Edmonton
Oil Kings. In six NHL seasons with the New
York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres, and Edmonton
Oilers, he played 257 games, scored 10 goals,
78 assists, for 88 points. In seven WHA seasons with Edmonton, he played 454 games,
with 53 goals, 258 assists for 311 points. His
sweater/jersey number 3 was retired by the
Edmonton Oilers.
town Juvenile Bombers to a Manitoba Title and
then went on to the Junior Bombers. He was
named the SJHL's most valuable player in
1956-57 when Flin Flon went on the capture
the Canadian Junior Championship and the
prestigious Memorial Cup. Choosing education
over pro hockey, he earned an engineering
degree at the University of Denver while helping the university squad (Pioneers) win NCAA titles in 1960 and
1961. In 2001 Konik was selected as one of the top 50 players in
NCAA tournament history. His intermittent pro career included
playing in the NHL in 1967-68 with the Pittsburgh Penguins and
ended in 1972-73 with the WHA Minnesota Fighting Saints.
hometown Junior Bombers rising up through
the famous Flin Flon Minor hockey system. He
played with the Bombers in the SJHL and the
WCJHL. Over his professional career he
played in five different leagues. Over parts of 15
NHL seasons he played 730 regular season
games and 78 playoff games with the Detroit
Red Wings, New York Islanders, Quebec
Nordiques, and St. Louis Blues. Always the Flin Flon goodwill
ambassador, his career NHL totals are 730 regular season games
with 29 goals and 150 assists for 179 points and playoff statistics of
78 games, three goals, 12 assists for 15 points.
1959 Memorial Cup with the Winnipeg Braves.
He had a 22-year pro career in the NHL,
WHL, EPHL, CPHL and WHA. He was with
the 1962-63 CPHL Champion Omaha Knights
and was top goaltender that same year. He was
the top goalie in the EPHL in 1962-63. He
played 113 games in the NHL with the Montreal
Canadiens and St. Louis Blues, with a record of
eight shutouts. Wakely played 334 games in the
WHA, including the Winnipeg Jets,San Diego
Mariners, Cincinnati Stingers, Houston Aeros,
and Birmingham Bulls over seven seasons with
16 shutouts.
nile and junior hockey with the Brandon
Wheat Kings before turning pro in 1960 with
the IHL Fort Wayne Komets. He went on to
play 813 games in 14 pro seasons in the
NHL, WHA, IHL, WHL, EPHL, CPHL and
AHL. His NHL career included games with
the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh
Penguins. In the WHA he played with both
the Houston Aeros and Chicago Cougars. After his pro career he
returned to Brandon, coaching the 1979 Memorial team which
lost to Peterborough. He was named the WCHL Coach of the
Year in 1977 and the WHL Coach of the Year in 1979.
31
Those who came to Flin Flon to play
CHUCK ARNASON, a right-winger born in
Ashern, played with the 1970-71 Junior Bombers
and was the WCJHL top scorer with 163 points.
Drafted seventh by the Canadiens, he played eight
seasons in the NHL. In 401 games with Montreal,
Atlanta Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins, Kansas City
Scouts, Colorado Rockies, Cleveland Barons,
Minnesota North Stars and Washington Capitals he
scored 109 goals and 90 assists for 199 points total.
RAY NEUFELD, a right winger born in
JORDY DOUGLAS, born in Winnipeg,
played with the Flin Flon Bombers from 1976-78,
scoring 60 goals in his last season. Drafted by the
Toronto Maple Leafs in 1978, but signed by the
WHA New England Whalers, the left-winger
played with the Hartford Whalers in their first
NHL season in 1979-80, recording 33 goals and 24
assists for 57 points. He played on two other NHL
teams, the Minnesota North Stars and Winnipeg
Jets, and ended his NHL career in 1985 with
76 goals and 62 assists, for a total of 138 points in 268 games.
BOB KABEL was a centreman, born in
Dauphin, who played two junior hockey seasons
with the Bombers before moving on to a 15-year
pro career. He played on two AHL championship
teams in 1960-61 and 1961-62 with the Springfield
Indians. In the WHL, he had stints with the
Vancouver Canucks, and also played for SaskatoonSt.Paul, Saskatoon Quakers, California Seals,
Phoenix, and Salt Lake City. Bob Kabel played in
48 NHL games with the New York Rangers and in a 890-game pro career
he recorded 236 goals, 400 assists for 636 points.
DANNY JOHNSON, from Winnipegosis,
REG LEACH, a right winger born in Riverton,
St. Boniface, played junior hockey with the
Bombers. He played 595 games in the NHL, 249
of them with the Winnipeg Jets. He advanced on to
Hartford and Boston in the NHL and played 235
games in the AHL with Springfield, Birmingham,
and Maine. He arrived in Winnipeg from Hartford
in a trade for Dave Babych in 1985. He recorded
157 goals and 357 points in the NHL.
played junior hockey for Flin Flon, Fort Francis,
and Brandon in the SJHL and for Fort Frances in
the MJHL. In 1968 he won a CPHL championship with the Tulsa Oilers. In the following two
seasons he was named to the league’s second all star
team. In 1970 he won the Tommy Ivan Trophy as
league MVP. Johnson played 121 NHL games with
Toronto, Vancouver, and Detroit, and dressed for
232 more with the WHA's Winnipeg Jets. He was the second captain of
the Jets before retiring in 1975.
set a record for most goals in a season while playing
junior hockey in Flin Flon. In 1970 he was WCJHL's
most valuable player. Drafted by Boston, he played in
the NHL for California, Philadelphia and Detroit,
and was on the Flyers’ 1975 Stanley Cup team. In
1976 he set a playoff record of 19 goals. Known as The
Riverton Rifle, Leach was awarded the Conn Smythe
Trophy, even though Montreal won the Stanley Cup,
the only non-goalie to be so honoured. He notched 381 goals, 285 assists
and 666 points in 934 NHL games.
TED HAMPSON, from Togo, Saskatchewan,
was captain of the Memorial Cup-winning 195657 Flin Flon Bombers. He was the undisputed hero
of the series. The centreman toiled with the NHL's
Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Detroit
Red Wings, Oakland/California Golden Seals, and
Minnesota North Stars, and the WHA's Minnesota
Fighting Saints and Quebec Nordiques. In the
NHL he totalled 676 games, 108 goals, 245 assists,
for 353 points. His WHA record stands at 305 games with 60 goals, 143
assists for 203 points. Hampson was awarded the Masterton Trophy in
1969 and went on to a brilliant career in professional scouting.
CLIFF PENNINGTON, born in Winnipeg,
DUANE RUPP, a defenceman viewed as a
hometowner, worked his way up in the Flin Flon
minor hockey system. Born in MacNutt,
Saskatchewan, he was on the Bombers’ 1956-57
Memorial Cup winning team. In seven NHL seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh
Penguins, and briefly in Minnesota and New York,
he played 374 games, notching 24 goals and 93
assists for 117 points. He also played 114 games in
two seasons with the WHA's Vancouver Blazers and Calgary Cowboys,
with three goals and 42 assists for 45 points. In 1974 Rupp was part of
the AHL Calder Cup championship team Hershey Bears.
32
played four seasons of junior hockey, two with the
St. Boniface Canadiens, 1956 MJHL champions,
and two with the Flin Flon Junior Bombers. He was
part of Team Canada’s 1960 silver medal-winning
Olympic Club. Two championship seasons followed, in 1961 with the Hull-Ottawa Canadiens
and 1963 Kingston Frontenacs of the EPHL. In
1970, with the Des Moines Oak Leafs, Pennington
was the IHL’s Most Valuable Player and was selected to the first all star
team. He retired in 1974 with 101 NHL games with Boston, and career
pro totals of 358 goals, 676 assists, and 1034 points in 766 games played.
BLAINE STOUGHTON, a right winger
born in Gilbert Plains, played four years of junior
hockey with the Bombers. Over eight years in the
NHL, with Pittsburgh, Hartford, Toronto, and the
New York Rangers, he played 526 games with 258
goals and 191 assists for 449 points. Stoughton’s
playoff record is eight games with four goals and
two assists for six points. With the Hartford
Whalers in 1979-80 he tied for the most goals with
56, together with 44 assists for a 100-point season. In 1981-82 he had 52
goals for the Whalers. His last pro season was with New Haven of the
AHL in 1984-85.
The builders
ROBERT (PINKY) DAVIE's playing career
JIM SKINNER was born in Selkirk and played
DENNIS McDONALD was born in Flin
BOBBY KIRK, the popular smiling Irishman,
was cut short by a sawmill accident after one partial
season with the NHL's Boston Bruins. For 35 years
the dedicated service of “Pinky” Davie helped amateur teams and leagues, particularly in Dauphin,
Flin Flon and Virden. He developed a Flin Flon
minor hockey system that was second to none,
allowing hundreds of local youth to pursue hockey
careers. He was born in Beausejour, Manitoba.
junior in the MJHL with both the Falcons and
Rangers. He was attracted to senior hockey in
Flin Flon and played on the Senior Bombers’
1938 Saskatchewan Senior Hockey League
Championship team. Jim Skinner spent more
than 30 years with the Detroit Red Wings in the
capacities of player, general manager, coach, director of scouting and chief scout.
Flon and played minor hockey in Winnipeg, where
he was part of the 1952 provincial championship
team. He was CAHA technical director from
1974-86, CAHA vice-president from 1986-89 and
recipient of the Gordon Juckes Award for hockey
development in Canada in 1989. McDonald was
director of operations for the Canadian Junior
Hockey Club from 1982-89 and manager of the
1984 Canadian Olympic Team. He served as assistant GM and director
of hockey operations for the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets from 1989-94.
was born in Belfast. He played in the MJHL with
the Elmwood Millionaires, who lost in the 1929
Memorial Cup Final to the Toronto Marlboros.
He played professionally for 12 years including
one NHL season with the 1938 New York
Rangers. In his career he played 482 games, scored
149 goals, 190 assists for 339 points. Bobby Kirk
later coached junior hockey in Flin Flon and was
the bench boss in 1957 when the Bombers won the Memorial Cup,
also coaching the AHL Buffalo Bisons.
PADDY GINNELL, born in Dauphin, was a
member of the Flin Flon Memorial Cup championship club in 1956-57 and after playing professionally for 12 years returned to coach the
Bombers. He was the WCHL Coach of the Year
in 1969-70, 1970-71, and 1972-73. He later
coached the Victoria Cougars, Lethbridge Broncos,
Medicine Hat Tigers, and New Westminster
Bruins in the WCHL and Swift Current Indians
for one year in the SJHL. His winning percentage was above .500, and
he later served as a pro scout.
BILL MALUTA, born in Benito, Manitoba,
was involved in hockey for over five decades. He
coached at the Minor League level in Flin Flon for
25 years (1958-1982), as well as Bantam, Midget
and Juvenile, winning seven provincial championships. He coached a young kid named Bobby
Clarke. Maluta received a level-four coaching
certificate in 1974 from the CAHA. He coached
high school hockey in Rochester, New York for nine seasons between
1983 and 1991. Maluta returned to Manitoba and was manager/coach
with the Brandon AAA Midgets.
GEORGE ALLARD was an outstanding
Junior A goalkeeper in his own right. On moving
to Flin Flon he organized and played for the Flin
Flon Intermediates, the National AA Champions
in 1965. Born in The Pas, he was a player, volunteer coach/manager from 1956-1967 in Flin Flon.
He was manager of the Flin Flon Junior Bombers
for three years and a scout for the New York
Rangers. George served as MAHA executive director for three decades, and also the secretary-treasurer of the MJHL from
1967-1977. Awarded the CAHA Order of Merit in 1985, he also
served on committees such as the First World Junior and Government
of Canada Hockey Review.
ROBERT (BUD) SIMPSON was a great
amateur goalie who played at all levels in the
Winnipeg minor, junior, and senior hockey systems. He moved to Flin Flon in 1935 and
played senior hockey with the Bombers until
1947. Simpson was the manager of the first Flin
Flon junior team in 1948-49 and held that position until his retirement in 1956. It is believed
that he was instrumental in recruiting quality
players for the Bombers 1957 Memorial Cup Championship team.
He was also an executive member of the Saskatchewan Junior
Hockey association for eight years. Buddy was born in Cannington
Manor, Saskatchewan.
Awards guide
Conn Smythe Trophy (NHL)��Most valuable player, Stanley Cup playoffs
Edinburgh Trophy (WHL) �� Championship (1954-57)
Hart (Memorial) Trophy (NHL)�� Player most valuable to his team
TED LINDSAY AWARD (NHL)�� Most outstanding player, regular season
Formerly the Lester B. Pearson Trophy
Masterton Trophy (NHL)��Player best exemplifying perseverance,
sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey
Memorial Cup (Junior) � Awarded to Canadian Junior Hockey championship team
Selke Trophy (NHL)�� Player displaying most defensive skill
Stanley Cup (NHL)�� Awarded to the championship team
Tommy Ivan Trophy (NHL)��Central Hockey League most valuable player
Author's note: This article would not have been possible without the generous cooperation of the people at the Manitoba Hockey
Hall of Fame located in Winnipeg. Many thanks to the volunteer executive and board of directors for allowing me to research their
files and photographs in preparation of this article, and all the best in fulfilling your mandate in the future.
33
Fracking:
some background
photo by jim parres
Samples of frac sand provided to the Manitoba government (petroleum division) by Unifrac, a division of Unimin
of Conneticut, US. Samples range from very fine grains to coarse. Coarse sand is best for the fracking process.
Frac sand
A new commodity for central Canada
By Jim Parres
As the cliché says,
when the going gets
tough, the tough (or
desperate) get going.
Well, that’s the attitude of certain people in the mining and mineral sector these
days, where things are very tough and companies facing a shortage of risk capital are
looking at other commodities. In the last
two years, money has been hard to come by
for junior explorers, especially those with
high-risk, high-reward mineral properties.
There has been a huge upheaval in the
senior mining sector, with some of the bigger players, such as Barrick and Kinross,
taking major write-downs on projects and
many large companies shedding their
CEOs. With gold, potash, and uranium
prices in the doldrums, the shares of many
of these companies are down dramatically.
As a result, many juniors have turned to
newer commodities such as medical marijuana and frac sand to raise money and
preserve or increase shareholder value.
34
Why frac sand?
Hydraulic fracture proppant is the
technical term for frac sand, an important
component in the horizontal drilling and
fracturing process used to recover gas and
oil. There are three types of proppant used
in “fracking:” raw sand, resin-coated sand,
and ceramic proppant.
The term proppant refers to the round
crystals of silica sand, which prop up the
fractures created on a horizontal drill hole.
Their combined permeability allows the
gas and/or oil to flow out of the fractures to
the surface of the well bore, or drill head.
During the hydraulic fracturing process, commonly known as fracking, frac
sand is pumped along with a fluid into a
closed wellbore. Powerful hydraulic pumps
create enough pressure to cause the geological formation to fracture. The frac sand
keeps the induced fractures open. Once the
fluid has been recovered, gas or oil can flow
through this area of high permeability.
Frac sand is utilized in all shale and oil
gas wells drilled in North America today.
In recent years, shale gas has become
a game changer for our oil-hungry economy. A massive energy resource boom is
happening now in North America, similar to the legendary Gold Rush days.
Canada is currently the fifth largest
producer of natural gas in the world.
There are an additional 16 trillion cubic
metres of shale and tight gas trapped in
low porosity silt or sand. That resource
is worth about $2 trillion.
While shale gas offers huge economic potential for Canada, there is
ongoing controversy and debate over
fracking, the technique used to access
shale gas. It was recently a major issue in
the elections in New Brunswick, where
Brian Gallant, leader of the province’s
Liberal party, called for a moratorium
similar to the one recently announced
in Nova Scotia.
Fracking uses large amounts of
water. In the process, some methane
escapes from the well into the atmosphere, and there is some risk of
ground water contamination. As with
other commodity mining processes,
legislators and developers have to
weigh the risks against the benefits of
increased job creation and increased
supplies of natural gas.
The growth of the
frac sand industry
in Manitoba and
Saskatchewan
As a result of the growth of fracking
as an industry practice, there is a huge
demand for frac sand. Thousands of
well crews are now waiting for the delivery of frac sand; just one well can require
about 25 rail cars of the proppant. As of
November 2014, a tonne of frac sand
sold for around $100.
Manitoba has entered the frac sand
production business on several fronts.
The Thompson Nickel Belt (TNB) is a
NNE – SSW trending geological structure
that in the 1950s was considered to be
about 150 km long. With the advent of
deeper penetrating geophysics (both
electrical and magnetic), the belt has now
been extended under the Paleozoic sediments found along Hwy 6 to a length of
over 400 km.
High-grade nickel and large low-grade
nickel deposits were found along the north
end of the TNB, including Thompson,
Mystery Lake, and Moak Lake, in the
1950s and 1960s. Exploration further south
in the Wabowden area uncovered several
large-tonnage, low-grade nickel deposits
and one higher grade, low tonnage deposit
(Manibridge).
My father, Lew Parres, convinced Oscar
Straus II to fund an exploration program
from just south of the Manibridge Mine, The hydraulic fracturing process
and which in large part covered the
Paleozoics sediments down to the Minago gists estimated the deposit contained
River where it crosses Hwy 6. In the early 45 million tons of high silica sand. At the
1960s we drilled numerous geophysical time, it was contemplated as a source for
targets which were found to be sulphide the plate glass industry. This frac sand
bodies with very low nickel values. Close deposit apparently comes to surface.
Claim Post recently bought out the
but no cigar!
In later years, Victory Nickel discovered leases from Char-Crete for $150,000.
a buried nickel deposit south of the Minago Gryba stated that he felt confident that
River. It was, of course, covered by sedi- further exploration work will yield an even
ments: 50 metres of limestone and nine larger deposit. Claim Post has received
metres of sandstone. Geologist Jim Chonoby their permits to explore.
suggested the sandstone unit be tested for
frac sand potential. It tested positive.
Although lacking the
Victory Nickel then created a subsidiary
glamour of some of the
called Victory Silica which has defined a
deposit of at least 12 million tonnes of frac
flavour-of-the-month
sand. Victory Silica purchased a processing
commodities,
plant near Medicine Hat, Alberta, and the
frac sand production and
company is processing sand from Wisconsin
and generating cash flow. Victory Silica
sales could well develop
hopes to build a bigger frac sand plant near
into a solid moneymaker.
Winnipeg. The Victory companies eventually intend to mine the nickel and frac sand
To reinforce my statement that frac sand
from both the Minago deposits. A double
has become a very saleable commodity,
whammy!
Not to be outdone, Charles Gryba, a Claim Post also bought out Gossan
former classmate of mine at the University Resources’ Manigotagan property at
of Saskatchewan, acquired quarry leases for Seymourville for $780,000 leaving Gossan
his company, Claim Post Resources. The with a royalty of $1 per tonne from producleases are located at Seymourville on the tion. The demand for frac sand is expected
east side of Lake Winnipeg, 200 km north- to grow for the foreseeable future.
Although lacking the glamour of some
east of Winnipeg.
The Seymourville silica sand deposit of the more glitzy, flavour-of-the-month
was discovered in 1977 and is an extension commodities (e.g. gold, tungsten, titaniof the historical Black Island silica deposit. um, cobalt, manganese, and uranium), frac
It was drilled by Manitoba Government sand production and sales could well develgeologists in 1981 and 1989. Those geolo- op into a solid moneymaker.
A number of Saskatchewan companies
have jumped on the frac sand bandwagon
as well, which shows there is a good
demand for the proppant.
Saskatchewan companies include Select
Sands Corporation (formerly La Ronge
Gold Corporation) which has diversified
into the frac sand sector while gold prices
languish. Select Sands intends to produce
approximately 170,000 tonnes of various
grades of frac sand annually. Part of the
proceeds from sales may be used to develop
the Preview SW gold project near the town
of La Ronge, Saskatchewan.
Via the Hanson Lake Road, Hanson
Lake Sands Corporation (HLSC) has been
able to access an Ordovician age large tonnage sand resource. HLSC has 20,000 acres
of quarry permits in place and bought the
Winn Bay Sand project for $220 million.
Rainmaker Resources Limited has a
frac sand project in north central
Saskatchewan at Jay Jay Lake (apparently a
local name). All the production comes
from a geological formation called the
Manville.
On a recent trip to the States I heard
about the environmental furor surrounding the mining of the frac sand along the
Mississippi River in Wisconsin, USA. Any
slow-down in Wisconsin production could
be a boon for Canadian producers in less
developed areas where environmental issues
are less of a concern.
With all this development I’d better
keep a close eye on my beach at the cabin
in Manitoba.
35
Protect Your Retirement against Market Volatility
A
~ Lenna Gowenlock, Edward Jones ~
s an investor, you’re well aware that, over the short
term, the financial markets always move up and
down. During your working years, you may feel that
you have time to overcome this volatility. And you’d be basing these feelings on actual evidence: historically, the longer
the investment period, the greater the tendency of the markets to “smooth out” their performance. But what happens
when you retire? Won’t you be more susceptible to market
movements?
You may not be as vulnerable to market movements as you
might think. People are living longer and may easily spend two,
or even three, decades in retirement — so your investment
time frame isn’t necessarily going to be that compressed.
Nonetheless, it’s still true that time may well be a more
important consideration to you during your retirement
years, so you may want to be particularly vigilant about taking steps to help smooth out the effects of market volatility.
Toward that end, here are a few suggestions:
be less likely to make moves such as selling quality investments
because their price is down, and missing any market rebound.
Don’t try to “time” the market
Focus on taking a longer-term view of market volatility by
staying invested and making consistent investments into quality assets based on a systematic strategy and not predictions
of market highs and lows. Over time, this method of investing
may result in lower per-share costs. However, as is the case
with diversification, this type of systematic investing won’t
guarantee a profit or protect against loss, and you’ll need to
be willing to keep investing when share prices are declining.
It’s probably natural to get somewhat more apprehensive
about market volatility during your retirement years. But taking
the steps described above can help you navigate the sometimes-choppy waters of the financial world.
Insurance and annuities are offered by Edward Jones Insurance Agency (except in
Quebec). In Quebec, insurance and annuities are offered by Edward Jones Insurance
Agency (Quebec) Inc.
©Edward Jones, Member CIPF
Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice.
You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.
Allocate your investments among a variety of asset classes
Of course, proper asset allocation is a good investment
move at any age, but when you’re retired, you want to be
especially careful that you don’t “over-concentrate” your
investment dollars among just a few assets. Spreading your
money among a range of vehicles—stocks, bonds, GICs, and
so on—can help you avoid taking the full brunt of a downturn
that may primarily hit just one type of investment. Keep in
mind, though, that while diversification can help reduce the
effects of volatility, it can’t assure a profit or protect against
loss.
Are
youAre
Are
ready?
you
you
ready?
ready?
You’re paying down your mortgage.
You’reYou’re
saving
for your child’s education.
paying down your mortgage.
You’reYou’re
paying
down
mortgage.
saving
foryour
your child’s
education.
But what
You’re
savingabout
for youryour
child’sfuture?
education.
Choose investments that have demonstrated
solid performance across many market cycles
But what about your future?
As you’ve probably heard, “past performance is no guarantee of future results,” and this is true. You can help improve
your outlook by owning quality investments. So when investing
in stocks, choose those that have actual earnings and a track
record of earnings growth. If you invest in fixed-income vehicles, pick those that are considered “investment grade”.
Let’s help you create your financial strategy
But
what
about
your
Let’s
youcontribution
create
yourfuture?
financial
strategy
before
thehelp
RRSP
deadline.
before
the RRSP contribution deadline.
Call me
today.
Let’s
help
you
create your financial strategy
Call me today.
before theLenna
RRSP
contribution
Gowenlock,
CFP®deadline.
Lenna Gowenlock, CFP®
Call me today.
Financial Advisor
.
Don’t make emotional decisions
204-687-5390
204-687-5390
#1-53 Main Street
www.edwardjones.com
www.edwardjones.com
Member
– Canadian
Investor
ProtectionFund
Fund
Flin Flon, MB R8A 1J7
Member
– Canadian
Investor
Protection
204-687-5390
.
IRT-8192-C
36
.
Flin Flon,
R8A
1J7 1J7
Financial
Advisor
Flin MB
Flon,
MB R8A
IRT-8192-C
IRT-8192-C
At various times during your retirement, you will, in all likelihood, witness some sharp drops in the market. Try to avoid
overreacting to these downturns and stay disciplined to your
strategy. If you can keep your emotions out of investing, you will
Financial Advisor
Lenna
Gowenlock,
#1-53 #1-53
Main
Street
Main Street CFP®
IRT-8192-C
IRT-8192-C
www.edwardjones.com
Member – Canadian Investor Protection Fund
IRT-8192-C
january
- february • cottage north magazine
Poetry
Corner
Arctic alchemy
By Glenda Walker Hobbs
Written after viewing Ron Watt’s
painting “Northern Lights”
Aurora borealis
ballerinas twirl
across northern heavens
they pirouette
pas de valse, adagio
to streaks
of aqua, indigo
sapphire, ivory,
cerulean
shimmer in wintry sky
cerulean, silver
shadows
ripple on snow carpets
spruces
shiver under frosty shawls
stand to attention
birches lift bare black branches
all applaud
Arctic alchemy
"Northern Lights" by Flin Flon painter Ron Watt
Brave new moon
By Sheila Marchant
The moon is no longer full and bright
It appears that a thief has taken a bite
And each night moon waits very patient and brave
For another bite from that very same knave
That will whittle moon down to a fingernail
But moon knows then that the thief must fail
And courageously begins to start the fight
To restore itself to full moonlight
37
Q&A
with
Dennis Foley
submitted photo
The Project Thompson team: Zhang Yaohan (Hann) and Dennis Foley
- Libby Stoker-Lavelle -
Shining a Light on the Positive: Project Thompson
At 32, Dennis Foley is Thompson’s
youngest city councillor and one of the
northern city’s biggest cheerleaders.
With his longtime friend Zhang Yaohan
(known as Hann), Foley has been producing
a small independent film series called Project
Thompson. Through this series, Foley and
Yaohan aim to highlight individuals who are
making a positive impact on the community, in an effort to show the world that there
are many sides to Thompson.
The team’s first two videos, featuring
artist Jasyn Lucas and Rachel Templeton,
executive director of the Juniper Centre,
are available on YouTube. Foley, who writes
the questions and conducts the on-camera
interviews, sat down with Cottage North to
discuss this exciting project.
CN: Can you tell us a bit about yourself
and the roles you play in Thompson?
DF: I’ve lived in Thompson my entire
life, and about six or seven years ago I
started to get more into community events.
I am the founder and president of the
Northern Manitoba Off Road Association,
which hosts yearly mud races and advocates for off-road safety.
Recently, I was elected to city council,
and I just started my four-year term. I’m
also the assistant service manager at the
Chevrolet dealership.
CN: Can you share some background
on what Project Thompson is and how it
evolved?
DF: Project Thompson is something
that I’ve had the idea for, for a long time.
The other gentleman I’ve partnered with,
Hann Zhang, is where the skill comes in
38
with the camerawork and editing. Hann
has come up with some great ideas, and he
takes care of everything from the music
intros to editing to the effects.
The basic premise is we want to talk to
people who are on the ground level—we’ll
call it the front line—for Thompson. We
are showing people the heart and core of
what really happens up here.
We both really wanted to do something
that would get rid of the negativity around
Thompson in the last few years. Although
I decided to run for council, this was in
no way a political thing. This was strictly
to do our part to better the image of
Thompson.
Our first YouTube video got over
1,000 hits, and we got such positive feedback on it…way above and beyond what
we thought we would get.
We plan on putting up more videos and
keeping it in the documentary style.
CN: What are some of the positive
qualities of Thompson that you want to
draw out through these videos?
DF: The people themselves. There are
so many organizations in town that are trying to better the community, just for the
sake of bettering the community. I’m a
Shriner and became a Shriner because of all
the work they do around the world with
children’s hospitals. At Christmas the
Shriners take gifts to kids at the hospital,
and Santa comes with us. We don’t look for
recognition, we just see the need. For all
the non-profit groups it’s all about enhancing the quality of life here.
Also, it’s the support from the busi-
nesses in town: I hosted a freestyle aerial
event, and we had Smook Contractors
donate the usage of a $100,000-plus loader
for the event. Thompson Trailbreakers
brought their new trail-groomer out and
helped make the landing for the event. The
guys that we had hired to come up here to
perform, they said they don’t see that kind
of generosity anywhere else.
CN: Which other individuals or topics
will you highlight in future videos?
DF: Our next guest is Emily Pruder,
who organized Thompson’s community
Christmas dinner. I’d also like to look into
the history of Thompson and the history of
service clubs here.
Eventually we will start going after the
harder issues, social issues…but we are going
to focus on what we’re doing about them.
CN: Which of these issues do you feel
are important to address?
DF: If you look at the Crime Severity
Index, Thompson is the most violent city
in Canada for its population. I’d like to do
a showcase on what’s being done to address
that. Thompson employs 38 police officers, which is double the amount that a
community the same size in Manitoba has.
There is the Northern Doorways project
and AFM, programs that we are running to
be as proactive as possible. But the only
thing getting published is the bad stuff.
My opinion is that if you look up
Thompson and you see five negative things,
well I want to put up five positive things to
dilute that. I want to give people an informed
opinion on what Thompson is really like.
We want to stay positive and stay real.
a good taste
Grandma’s Dill Pickle Soup
Ingredients
2 tbsp butter
¼ cup chopped onion
2 cups diced potatoes
1 cup diced carrots (optional)
1 cup chicken broth
1 tsp salt
pinch marjoram
3 cups milk
2 tbsp flour
3-4 large dill pickles,
finely chopped
¼ to ½ cup pickle juice
1 tbsp chopped parsley
When I first started working at Cottage North, sales representative Krista Lemcke introduced me
to dill pickle soup. I thought it sounded so wrong to put pickles in soup, but, trust me, it tastes so
right. If you love pickles, you need to try this Bowes family recipe.
This soup takes less than a half hour to make, and most of the ingredients are items you’re
likely to have on hand in your kitchen, so it’s a great meal to make in a pinch.
Serves six. Enjoy!
— Libby Stoker-Lavelle
Directions
Melt butter in large saucepan. Sauté onions until tender. Add potatoes, water, bouillon, salt and
marjoram. Cover and simmer 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Combine milk and flour in a bowl, then stir into potato mixture.
Cook and stir soup over medium heat until mixture boils and thickens. Stir in parsley.
Add pickle juice (to taste) and pickles.
To serve, ladle into bowls and garnish with shredded cheddar cheese or sour cream and parsley.
Eddie’s Feeling inspired by this recipe?
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39
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Stan Long, sponsored by the Strathroy Rockets

September-October 2013 - Cottage North Magazine

Waukesha County Wolves Girls Hockey Summer Ice Program – 2013

victory hockey - Skate Frederick

Everything for the Vacation at Flin Flon

Thank you! We raised $519,799!

a pdf - Cottage North Magazine

Squirt Registration

Crystal Kolt and the Culture Days Phenomenon

Crystal Kolt Churchill B-47 Down

a pdf - Cottage North Magazine

Municipality Of Flin Flon - Flin Flon Heritage Project