Crystal Kolt Churchill B-47 Down

Transcription

COTTAGE
north
September - October 2014
Crystal Kolt
Bringing Culture Days
to life in Flin Flon
B-47 Down
A dramatic rescue in Sandy Bay
Churchill
A photographic journey
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SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER • cottage north magazine
Inside
COTTAGE
north
September-October 2014 • Volume 12, Issue 5
Features
11 Crystal Kolt and the Culture Days Phenomenon
21
The story behind the little northern city that could, and the award-winning arts advocate who orchestrates Flin Flon’s Culture Days celebration each year.
Libby Stoker-Lavelle
18 A Vision for Self-governance in the North: The Precambrian Proposal
A daring proposal for new provincial boundaries that would better serve the needs of northern Canadians.
Jim Parres
21 A Photographic Journey through Churchill
Our photo contest winner shares highlights from his beluga whale-watching trip.
Scott Kurytnik
25 The Sturgeon River Armada
25
Two musicians are redefining the musical tour, one paddle at a time.
31 B-47 Explosion and Rescue
One winter day in 1953, the Cold War came to Sandy Bay, Saskatchewan.
Morley G. Naylor
40 Back to School 101
30
A northern teacher, mental health clinician, and fitness trainer share their advice for a healthy start to the school year.
Shannon Smadella
44 Opportunity Knocks for Local Writers
How a writer and librarian worked together to bring a writer-in-residence program to The Pas.
In Every Issue
4 Editor’s Note
6 Calendar of Events
7 In a Nutshell
16 Wildlife: Coyotes
28 A Good Taste
Wild Cranberry Tarts
39 Poetry Corner
46 Q&A: Painter Jasyn Lucas
cottagenorthmagazine.ca • facebook.com/cottagenorthmagazine • @cottagenorth
ON THE COVER
Crystal Kolt, cultural coordinator
for the Flin Flon Arts Council, is a
passionate advocate for the arts on
both local and national levels.
Under her guidance, Flin Flon’s
Culture Days festival has become
an innovative and engaging event
that sets the standard for other
communities across the country.
Kolt shares her insights on how this
lively festival evolved on page 11.
3
Listen! The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves,
We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!
— Humbert Wolfe
The turning of the seasons is always a vivid reminder that change really is the only
constant in our lives. Whether or not we accept it, those hot summer days will fade
into memory, and the autumn leaves will brighten, and then fall, just as they have
every year.
Though I wish the fall weather would last longer, I have to wonder if the best thing
about autumn in the North is the brevity of the season. Knowing that winter waits
around the corner makes us cherish each lovely day like a special gift; it compels us
to get outside and make the most of the fall.
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.
So as you busy yourself with all the hustle and bustle that this season brings, I hope
you will take a moment to enjoy its beauty as well: the crisp air, the harvest
vegetables, the golden poplar leaves, the warmth of an autumn sun, and (perhaps
best of all) the refreshing absence of mosquitoes.
We have some great stories to brighten your days in September and October,
including a photographic journey through Churchill, an interview with talented
artist Jasyn Lucas, two fascinating looks at local history, and a preview of Flin Flon’s
dynamic Culture Days celebrations. For those of you with students heading back to
class, make sure you check out “Back to School 101” for some helpful advice on
starting the year off right.
As for me, I think I’ll take my cue from Nathaniel Hawthorne, who wrote,
“I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying
in the house.”
A very happy autumn to you!
Publisher
Valerie Durnin
Editor
Production manager & layout editor
John Bettger
Advertising & graphic design
Krista Lemcke
Sales & marketing advisor
Karen MacKinnon
Office administrator & copy editor
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 12, Issue 5. Printed in Canada, 2014.
@cottagenorth
All rights reserved. Reproduction of photos, illustrations, or text in any form without written permission
from the publisher is prohibited.
september - october • cottage north magazine
Contributors
Shirley Barbeau "Neighbouring Leaders Sign Accord" p. 9
Shirley Barbeau is a long-time resident of The
Pas, and former resident of Cranberry Portage.
A recent graduate of UCN, Shirley works for
both The Pas Arts Council and The Pas and
District Chamber of Commerce. In her free
time, Shirley taps into her creative side with
crafting projects and art installations; she is
also a MS Walk ambassador.
Gerry Clark "Wildlife Corner: Coyotes" p. 16
Gerry Clark is a retired schoolteacher whose
whole career, starting in 1969, has been at
Hapnot Collegiate in Flin Flon. His interests
include drawing, mostly portraits and some
caricatures; photography, mostly wildlife but
also sports, involving his four grandsons; and
writing, mostly about local history.
Marc Jackson "Snow Lake Lass Lends Life to Legend" p. 7
Marc Jackson has lived in Snow Lake for
42 years. He is married to Leone and has four
children and three grandchildren. For the
past number of years, Marc has written, edited, and published Snow Lake’s Underground
Press, as well as a syndicated column that runs
Fridays in the Flin Flon Reminder, Opasquia
Times, and Nickel Belt News. He has co-written two books.
Sheila Marchant "The Wind" p. 39
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.
Morley G. Naylor "B-47 Explosion and Rescue" p. 31
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.”
Jim Parres "A Vision for Self-governance in the North" p. 18
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 bimonthly column in the Snow Lake newspaper.
Shannon Smadella "Back to School 101" p. 40
As a charitable business professional, humanitarian and former Miss Canada, Shannon 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 Royal Bank.
Pat Vickery "Dedication" p. 39
Pat Vickery was born and raised in Flin Flon. She attended the University of Saskatchewan and obtained a B.A. and a B.Ed, teaching in
Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Wisconsin. Vickery’s work for children
was published in W.J. Gage anthologies, textbooks, and workbooks
and her poetry has been published in Canada and the U.S.
There's more to discover online! Visit www.cottagenorthmagazine.ca
interactive online calendar of events • business directory • current & past issues
View and share the Flin Flon & Area Tourism Guide at flinflontourism.ca
5
September-October
Calendar of Events
The Calendar of Events is now online! Check out more listings and details for the
latest concerts, festivals and other local happenings at cottagenorthmagazine.ca
Flin Flon
Sept-Oct: One Square Foot Exhibition & Auction at the NorVA Centre. Open to all artists!
Live Auction on Oct 4. Visit norvacentre.com for details.
Sept 13-14: Under One Roof Flin Flon: Registration for recreation activities
Sept 13: Local band The Mix will perform at the Royal Canadian Legion, 9 pm
Sept 13: Annual Home Business Show, Creighton Sportex, 10-3 pm
Sept 19: Flin Flon Bombers Season Opener, Whitney Forum 7:30 pm
Sept 24, 25: Home Routes Concert: Morgan Davis. Call Tim at 204-687-7768 for information.
Oct 4: In Motion Walk at the SPCA: Meet the dogs and join in a walk to celebrate the SPCA’s 2nd
anniversary. Time TBA.
Oct 5: City of Flin Flon Fun Run at the Phantom Lake Golf Course
Oct 23, 24: Home Routes Concert: Little Miss Higgins. Call Tim at 204-687-7768 for information.
Oct 30: Free Halloween Family Dance at the Creighton Community Hall, 7-9 pm
The Sweat, Blood and Mud 5k will take
place in September in The Pas.
Visit www.eventbee.com/v sweatbloodmud/
The Pas
Sept 6: Sweat, Blood & Mud: 5k Mud Run, Opasquia Agricultural Grounds
Sept 13: Kelsey Recreation Parade of Programs, Roy Johnston Arena, 11-2 pm
Sept 14: Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research, The Pas Wellness Centre, 1 pm
Sept 21: Home Routes: Morgan Davis – tribute to Stompin’ Tom Connors
Oct 4-Nov 26: Mike Grandmaison: Prairie and Beyond exhibit, Sam Waller Museum
Oct 21: Home Routes Concert: Little Miss Higgins, Sam Waller Museum, 7pm
Thompson
Sept 5-6: Annual Health & Leisure Mart at the TRCC: register for sports, fitness,
arts and leisure activities and check out the craft show too!
Want to see your event in Thompson in this section? Email us at cottagenorth@thereminder.ca
Prince Albert
On Oct 29th Canadian Country Music Award
nominee David James will perform his
“Man in Black” Johnny Cash show at the
R.H. Channing Community Hall.
Visit flinflonartscouncil.com for more information.
Sept 13: The Big Amazing Race by Big Brother Big Sisters P.A., downtown, 3-8 pm
Sept 14: Driving & Chipping Away Childhood Cancer Golf Tournament, Silver
Hills Golf Course
Sept 23: Monkey Junk blues band, E.A. Rawlinson Centre, 7:30 pm
Oct 3: Stand-up comedy show with Harland Williams and Dan Quinn, E.A.
Rawlinson Centre
Sept 26-28 is Culture Days across Canada!
Visit culturedays.ca to find activities near you,
and read our story about Culture Days in Flin Flon on page 11
Watch for the Culture Days Passport
This pocket-sized book will contain everything people need to know
about what’s happening during Culture Days in Flin Flon.
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In a Nutshell:
A miscellany of regional news
Snow Lake lass lends life to legend
Photo by marc jackson
~ Marc Jackson ~
Snow Lake actress Cheyenne Tandy played the part of
prospector Kate Rice in a local production.
OZ
Wizard
OF
She was a backpacking, gun-toting, belle of the bush who kept a
sharp axe and a sharper tongue as
prime instruments of survival
throughout her journey to western
Canada, then on to climes further
north. Kate Rice’s story is one that
is familiar to those who live near or
reside in Snow Lake. Many have
heard of how, after being born into
Ontario aristocracy, Rice shook off
the trappings of upper society to
spend time with the trappers of the
lower Ospawagan.
In recognition of this prospector’s recent induction into the
Canadian Mining Hall of Fame,
the Aurora Borealis Arts Council,
the Town of Snow Lake, and the
Second Glance worked together to
present a locally written, produced
and performed play, Kate Rice and
the Gold Diggers. The play was performed at 1 pm each Saturday
afternoon in July and August in
the beverage room of the Snow
Lake Motor Inn.
Snow Lake chanteuse/actress
Cheyenne Tandy captured Kate
Rice’s personality and more in her
spot-on delivery, portraying the
community’s historic heroine of
Herb Lake.
Follow Dorothy and Toto down the yellow brick road in this
classic favourite, performed by your local Ham Sandwich.
ull list
Find a f s in our
of evente Days
Cultur ort!
Passp
And watch for these upcoming attractions ...
Sept 26, 27, 28 — CULTURE DAYS
Celebrate our love of culture! Find out more at: www.culturedays.ca
Nov
27 & 28
Oct 29 — David James: Man in Black
A unique blend of country rock & electrifying voice makes each
performance better than the last.
Nov 1 — Christmas Arts & Crafts Sale
Start your Christmas shopping early! Treat that specal
someone on your list to a unique piece of art.
Nov 19 — Black Umfolosi
This a cappella & dance group specializes in traditional
African song & dance. It’s certain to be a blast!
Dec 5 & 6 — Jingle Bells Christmas Concert
Christmas time is here! Join the Flin Flon Community Choir in
singing all your favourite seasonal songs.
www.
flinflonartscouncil.com
687.5974
204
7
New book traces Calm Air’s path
from Saskatchewan to Manitoba
available on iTunes
“A born performer and story-teller,
Trubiak is an artist who simply fills
space differently than others.”
– Guerilla Magazine; 2013, Ottawa
To contact CC or arrange bookings,
visit www.cctrubiak.com
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Northern Lights: Arnold & Gail Morberg and the Calm Air
Story by Doug Whiteway, Barbara Huck and Frances Russell
provides a diverting and entertaining trip through the history of
what was once Canada’s largest privately owned airline.
The airline began in 1961 as a way for Arnold Morberg to
transport guests and supplies to and from the fishing lodge in
Stony Rapids, Saskatchewan that he purchased from his father.
Arranged mostly chronologically but
with plenty of digressions along the way,
the 167-page book is slim and entertaining enough to be raced through in the
space of a couple of hours. The book covers everything from Arnold’s three broken
backs from plane crashes, to Gail’s philanthropic efforts following the sale of the
airline. The authors also cover a serendipitous encounter with Prime Minister
John Diefenbaker that proved instrumental in Arnold Morberg obtaining the commercial licence that
paved the way to Calm Air becoming a multimillion dollar
operation. Several of Gail Morberg’s favourite recipes are also
included in the book.
This title will appeal to anyone with an interest in aviation,
the north and the opening up of northern Manitoba to trade and
travel.
Northern Lights: Arnold & Gail Morberg and the Calm Air
Story is summed up nicely by Gail Morberg, who recalls, in the
final chapter, her response to a teacher who said she was a legend
after she made a presentation at a school. “I never thought of it
that way, you know,” said Gail. “We just lived our lives and it
turned out to be kind of marvelous.”
This article was excerpted with permission from the Thompson
Citizen. Read the full story at thompsoncitizen.ca
W
Photo by ian graham
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8
Gail Morberg, who co-founded Calm Air with her late husband
Arnold, was back in her old home in June for the Thompson
book launch of Northern Lights: Arnold & Gail Morberg
and the Calm Air Story.
Neighbouring leaders sign historic friendship accord
On August 13, 2014, Mayor Alan McLauchlan of
The Pas, Chief Michael Constant of Opaskwayak Cree
Nation, and Reeve Rod Berezowecki of the RM of Kelsey
signed a unique friendship accord.
This agreement will serve as a concrete reminder to all
three councils of their relationship, shared vision and commitment to regional collaboration.
In addition to acknowledging the three communities’
shared values, the accord creates more formal structures for
future collaboration, including a commitment on behalf of the
community leaders to meet at least twice annually to promote
open and constructive dialogue.
This accord originated from a collaborative workshop
entitled “Relationship Building: First Nations and
Municipalities”. Chief Constant, Mayor McLauchlan and
Reeve Berezowecki attended the April workshop, along with a
number of other interested parties from the community. The
event was organized by the Community Economic
Development Initiative (CEDI), a joint initiative of the
Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and the Council
for the Advancement of Native Development Officers
(CANDO).
Over 280 communities applied for consideration for this
Photo by shirley barbeau
~ Shirley Barbeau ~
Mayor Alan McLauchlan of The Pas, Chief Michael Constant
of Opaskwayak Cree Nation Reeve Rod Berezowecki of the RM
of Kelsey signed a historic agreement during the 49th annual
Opaskwayak Indian Days.
workshop; only six groups were chosen. During the workshop,
attendees discussed how First Nations and municipal communities can work together to design and implement longterm development strategies.
The Friendship Accord, which is subtitled
“Three Communities – One Heart” can be read online at
www.tpcdc.com. For information on the CEDI process, visit
www.edo.ca.
A new place to swim: community development in Cranberry Portage
One of the most beautiful lakes in northern
Manitoba now has a new beach area and floating
dock nestled along its shores, part of a larger community development project in Cranberry Portage.
Phase one of the project will be completed in
September, merely two months after its commencement in early July.
“The goal of the improvement is to provide a safe
and fun place for the kids of the community to swim
and play,” says Debbie McLauchlan, Executive Director
of the Child/Family Resource Centre in Cranberry
Portage.
The development project, which will cost $78,000
to complete, will include a full cleanup of the shore
area, a new dock, swimming area, playground, and
beach volleyball court. This will be the first development of its kind in years for the community, and is
possible thanks to a $55,000 grant from Community
Places Program North. If the grant is received again,
phase two will begin next summer.
Photo by shannon smadella
~ Shannon Smadella ~
Three-year-old Ryder Smadella looks on as local youth explore the floating dock
at Cranberry Portage. The new dock is part of an ongoing local development
initiative.
9
Why Join Our Dynamic Team?
Come Join Us!!!
We Offer:
For more career opportunities and required
qualifications, please visit our website at:
• Competitive Salaries
• Relocation Assistance
• Interim Accommodations
and so much more....
• A Comprehensive Benefit Program
• Continuing Education
• Retention Allowance
(designated positions)
With the Northern Health Region geographically being the largest of five RHAs
in the province of Manitoba, just imagine the career opportunities available!!
Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses,
Registered Psychiatric Nurses,
Licensed Practical Nurses
Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians
Physiotherapists, Occupational
Therapists, Rehabilitation Assistants
Respiratory Therapists
Dieticians
Health Care Aides &
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and so many more...
After Hours Mental Health Resource Numbers
A number of toll-free 24 hour telephone based helplines are available to help in times of
emotional or mental health crisis. These include:
• Crisis Line 1-888-322-3019,
• Suicide help line 1-877-435-7170,
• Senior abuse line 1-888-896-7183,
• Manitoba Farm & Rural Support 1-866-367-3276,
• Health Links 1-888-315-9257, and
These people are there to help in times of need. Please feel free to call on them should the
need arise. The Region’s Community Mental Health staff are available from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
weekdays (excluding holidays) and can be reached at 204-687-1350.
www.nrha.ca
or contact our Recruitment Officers:
Holly Rousson
Aboriginal/External Recruitment Officer
Western Campus
Box 240, The Pas, MB R9A 1K4
Phone: (204) 623-9229, Toll Free: 1-866-758-7871
Fax: (204) 627-6805, Email: recruitwest@nrha.ca
Dion McIvor
Aboriginal/External Recruitment Officer
Eastern Campus
867 Thompson Drive South, Thompson, MB R8N 1Z4
Phone: (204) 778-1455, Toll Free: 1-877-677-5353
Fax: (204) 778-1477, Email: recruiteast@nrha.ca
Dedicated to providing quality, accessible
and compassionate health services for all. We
proudly serve the community, while working
toward Healthy People in a Healthy North.
Flin Flon Regional Office
84 Church St
Flin Flon MB R8A 1L8
Ph: (204) 687-1300
Fax: (204) 687-6405
Supporting Healthy People in a Healthy North.
www.nrha.ca
10
Crystal Kolt
and the Culture Days Phenomenon
Each year, Flin Flon’s vibrant Culture Days festival gets bigger and better. Crystal Kolt, Flin Flon’s busiest arts
advocate, shares her story of bringing Culture Days to life, one dancer, singer, and live-action-role-player at a time.
- Libby Stoker-Lavelle On May 23, 2014, Crystal Kolt,
cultural coordinator for the Flin Flon
Arts Council, addressed arts leaders
from around the country, and told them
the story of how a remote mining town
became a flourishing arts community.
“Like many communities in Canada,
we love our hockey. We struggle with a
dwindling population. But there is also
something magical happening here.”
Kolt smiled as the slideshow changed,
revealing a large group of Flin Flonners
posing gleefully. “Here are hundreds of
Flin Flonners, including our MLA and
mayor, dancing down Main Street…
everyone is clapping their hands, and
singing and dancing.”
This unusual “Dance Down Main
Street” event is just one component of
Flin Flon Culture Days, an annual
three-day festival where residents come
together to learn new skills, meet artists
of all stripes, and celebrate culture
together.
Evolution
Culture Days, which will take place
this year from September 26-28, is a crosscountry initiative that has been evolving
on a national level for several years.
Fortunately for Flin Flon, Crystal Kolt
was at the leading edge of the planning
process for Culture Days in Manitoba.
“I had been at a round table meeting
for the arts community in Winnipeg, and
I met Jean Giguère,” Kolt recalls. Giguère,
who is Chair Emeritus of the Royal
Winnipeg Ballet, was instrumental in the
creation of Culture Days. “I had spoken to
[Giguère] then about getting the Royal
Winnipeg Ballet up to Flin Flon. In 2008,
a few years later, she called and asked
whether I would be interested in
Crystal Kolt, lead organizer for Culture Days in Flin Flon, and a member of the Manitoba task
force for Culture Days, was recently honoured with the Antoni Cimolino Leadership Award.
Photo by Libby Stoker-Lavelle
collaborating in a pan-Canadian celebration of arts and culture.”
It turned out that the concept was just
what Kolt had been seeking. “We [in Flin
Flon] are always looking out, trying to
share our talent with the rest of the world,
and we’re always interested in bringing
new talent and ideas into the North. So
when Jean Giguère explained what the
national committee was going to do, I just
jumped at it and said, ‘Yes! I’ll do whatever I can to be a part of this,’ because I
just believe in it so much.” Kolt joined the
Manitoba Task Force for Culture Days,
and the ball was rolling.
Flin Flon celebrations
In 2009, Culture Days was founded as
a non-profit organization with a focus on
creating opportunities for Canadians to
engage in all forms of arts and culture, via
a three-day event each September. The
first Culture Days weekend took place in
2010, and communities across the country were invited to take part in, and organize, events under the Culture Days banner.
As Flin Flon prepared for its first
Culture Days, Kolt focused on making the
weekend’s events as inclusive as possible.
“Culture Days had been explained to
me as [an opportunity] to celebrate every
11
aspect of arts and culture, to try and let
the general public be aware of the fact that
arts and culture are a part of your life
whether you know it or not,” Kolt explains.
“Whether it’s the logo on your hockey
jersey, or the dance class you attend, we’re
all involved in the arts in one way
or another.”
Making Connections
In Flin Flon’s first Culture Days, the
community enjoyed 36 events—a busy
weekend by anyone’s standard. Last year,
Flin Flon Culture Days included more
than 80 free public events, ranking seventh in the country, in terms of the number of activities offered.
“For us to compete with a city the size
of Toronto, Ottawa or Vancouver; or with
Stratford, that has such a reputation of
excellence…that made me really excited,”
recalls Kolt. “Those are the adventures
that I live for, and it is the food for me to
keep going, seeing how we can connect in
this big country of ours.”
So how has Culture Days become so
successful in Flin Flon?
Kolt is the first to cite her incredible
team of volunteers as the secret to the
project’s success year after year. Volunteers
organize events, lead activities, corral audiences and participants, communicate with
the public on social media, set up spaces,
and complete a thousand other tasks over
the weekend, and in the months leading
up to September 26. This is no small
Métis author David Bouchard speaks to
Hapnot Collegiate students last September.
Bouchard was a featured artist at Flin Flon
Culture Days in 2013.
Photo by Daniel Dillon
12
team, either: 320 volunteers are involved
so far with Culture Days 2014.
Kolt’s approach to event planning is
two-pronged: she brings skilled artists into
the community, while also capitalizing on
the wealth of cultural resources already in
the local area.
Through a great deal of grant-writing,
and funding support from multiple sources, Kolt has been able to bring in highcalibre artists from across the country.
These professionals set the tone for a quality event. At the same time, Kolt communicates with residents of Flin Flon,
Creighton and Denare Beach, encouraging individuals to get involved with
Culture Days, and helping each person
find the resources to share their talents
with the public.
“It is something that is rather easy to
do, to encourage people to share their
love, their knowledge,” says Kolt. “Whether
it’s canoe-making or birch-bark-biting,
everybody has something that they love,”
says Kolt, “and that is arts and culture and
heritage. That’s what we’re about.”
Of course, Crystal Kolt’s boundless
enthusiasm is the engine that keeps the
whole train moving. As many Flin Flonners
will tell you, whatever your talent, passion, or interest, Crystal Kolt will be asking you to share it at Culture Days.
Something for everyone
As Kolt set out to organize the first
Culture Days, diversity of programming
was always in the back of her mind. She
recruited volunteers who could coordinate events for different age groups, to
“give everybody in the community a
chance to explore arts and culture.”
Kolt found an ideal partner in retired
teacher Katie Anderson, who became
the school coordinator for Culture
Days.
“Katie Anderson is fearless, and an
amazing organizer,” raves Kolt, “and
people know and respect her, so we were
able to move [the programming] forward, even though we didn’t know how
to do it at first.”
This year, Flin Flon and Creighton
students will have the opportunity to
practice slam poetry with Isaac Bond, an
award-winning spoken word poet; learn
Susan Lethbridge organizes "Culture’s
Cool for Kids," taking place on Friday
September 26 this year.
Photo by Karen MacKinnon
the art of juggling from children’s entertainer Isaac the Juggler; and practice their
twang in a country singing workshop with
Quinton Blair. And that’s only a handful
of the activities available on Friday alone.
Over the past four years, Culture Days
volunteers have worked hard to bring new
experiences to those demographic groups
that might slip under the radar.
Local musician Susan Lethbridge manages “Culture’s Cool for Kids,” a day of
activities for local pre-schoolers at St.
Ann’s Parish. Last year, local youngsters
and their families learned bannock-making, crafting and music.
Kolt has also made programming for
the older generation a priority. This year,
the Flin Flon Public Library and the City
of Flin Flon are working together to host
a program geared towards the community’s senior population. At this event,
named “Who’s Who,” attendees will be
able to view long-hidden photos from the
library and city archives, and help identify
those photos that have been, thus far,
unidentifiable.
Flin Flon comes to life
In addition to these more targeted
events, most of the weekend’s activities are
designed to appeal to all ages. While past
Culture Days events have been held in
Bakers Narrows, the events this year will
take place at a few central locations in the
city, in order to make the weekend accessible to as many residents as possible.
On Friday night, the Flin Flon Public
Library will host one of the weekend’s
best-loved events, "Human Book
Night." At this event, individuals from
the community become “living books”
who share personal experiences with
attendees in an informal setting. Library
administrator Cindy McLean explains,
“The idea behind the event is to create
a positive, non-judgmental, learning
environment, where barriers are crossed,
and our own perceptions are challenged.
We feel that the evening brings the
community together.” On Saturday and Sunday, more
event spaces will come to life all over the
city. At Pioneer Square, spectators can
watch hoop dancers, slam poetry, or
watch a chess champion play 17 opponents at the same time (and participate
if they like—there is a good prize for the
last man standing). At Creekside Park,
the Flin Flon Bombers will organize a
street hockey game, while live action role
players (LARPers) in medieval costume
will battle it out on the other side of the
park. At the Rotary Wheel, local and
national entertainers and artists will create
a lively space for young children, featuring
juggling, clowning, and even panning for
gold.
On Main Street, several tents will be
set up as workshops and learning spaces.
The Flin Flon Aboriginal Friendship
High school students in Flin Flon and surrounding area have submitted work to be displayed
during the “Hung out to Dry” exhibit at the NorVA Centre during Culture Days. Artist and
retired art teacher Karen Clark, shown here, helps coordinate the NorVA events during
Culture Days.
File photo
13
local sites of interest.
The R.H. Channing Auditorium in
the Community Hall will host a number
of events as well, notably the “Wild Rice
Ragout” concert. Kim Jones, one of the
lead organizers for the event, explains,
“This one-of-a-kind event is inspired by
notable collaborations like those of David
Collins and Tom Creighton. Stories of
historic collaborations will be interspersed
with those between Flin Flon musicians.
The evening will also include live collaboration between visual artists.”
The story behind the dance
Linda Allen and Lori Lawrence carried this handmade sign during the
“Dance Down Main Street” in 2013.
Photo by Karen MacKinnon
Centre will be teaching stoppers-by about
the seven sacred teachings, and geologists
will be manning the Miners Tent, where
visitors can learn about the riches in Flin
Flon’s rocks.
For those who prefer to explore the
area by foot, local geologist Tom Heine
will be leading a tour of Flin Flon called
Walking through a Volcano. Historian
Gerry Clark will also lead three tours of
Of course, one of the events closest to
Crystal Kolt’s own heart is the annual
“Dance Down Main Street”, which will
take place on September 28 this year.
“That was my own personal dare,”
laughs Kolt, when recalling how the event
first got started. “I thought, 'What would
be visually unique and daring?' And then
I thought, 'What if we had a choreographed moment, 15 minutes where it
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doesn’t matter how old you are, two or 92?'
It’s easy. It’s silly. It’s fun. It was one of those
things where I thought six months earlier,
‘Oh, it’s going to be great,’ then as it got
closer, I thought, ‘It’s going to be just me
and six of my friends dancing down Main
Street! It was terrifying.”
Luckily, the first “Dance Down Main
Street” exceeded Kolt’s expectations: “About
250 people turned up, and it was one of
those empowering moments. When you
take away the worry about professionalism,
and when you’re with a big group of likeminded people, it doesn’t matter whether or
not you’re moving your right arm correctly.
It’s about celebrating together.”
This event garnered the community
some national attention, via a shout-out
from Jian Ghomeshi, host of the CBCRadio show Q. “I loved hearing about Flin
Flon,” he said. “They had people on the
street…dancing to ‘Waving Flag’ by
K’Naan. That’s something you might see in
Toronto or Montreal, but when it’s the
majority of a community getting out and
doing something like that, it’s really cool.”
Recognition for Flin Flon
Last spring, Kolt received some muchdeserved recognition when she was awarded
the Antoni Cimolino Leadership Award,
which honours an individual who has demonstrated exceptional support and leader-
ship in promoting Culture Days. This
award was named for its first recipient, the
art director for the Stratford Festival in
Ontario, and a key supporter of Culture
Days nationally. “It was an exceptional personal experience,” Kolt says. “The people
on the selection committee are some of the
elite of the country, and they selected us—I
see it as us rather than me—for what we’ve
accomplished here, and that means a lot, to
be able to have that recognition.”
When asked what drives her to commit
so much time and energy to Culture Days,
Kolt says: “I like a good dare, I think!”
While the challenge of putting a remote
northern community “on the map” certainly seems to be part of Kolt’s motivation,
it is also the response from the community
itself that inspires her ongoing efforts. “I
really believe that arts and culture is so
vibrant in our area, so it is a lot of work, but
it’s easy to do at the same time, because of
all the excitement, support, and interest.
And when you start to get attention at the
provincial and national level, that is so
good.”
Flin Flon’s Culture Days event listings can
be found online at www.culturedays.ca.
Individuals who are interested in organizing a Culture Days activity can contact the
Flin Flon Arts Council, or create an event and
post it on the Culture Days website at
www.culturedays.ca
Looking Forward
The Flin Flon Arts Council's
ambitions for the community
go far beyond producing
broadway-quality musicals (like
2013’s Chicago), supporting
local artists, and bringing
talented professionals into the
city. The long-term vision is to
have Flin Flon become an
academic centre for the north,
with high-quality programming
focused on studies in the arts
and the environment.
Over the past year, an
executive board and a
community task force of 68
volunteers have been working
on bringing this vision closer
to a reality.
The executive board has made
plans for a feasibility study for
the (tentatively named) North
Central Canada Centre for the
Arts and Environment
(NCCCAE). The long-term
vision is to build a centre
which would offer community
programming and events as
well as serve as a year-round
institute for students and
professionals in various fields
of study. A consulting firm has
been selected to conduct a
feasibility study once the Flin
Flon Arts Council and its
supporters have (hopefully)
secured the necessary funding,
approximately $130,000.
Current sponsors of the
feasibility study include the
Arts Council itself, the City of
Flin Flon, the Town of
Creighton, the Northern Village
of Denare Beach, Flin Flon
School Division, Creighton
School Division, and University
College of the North.
“It’s about celebrating together,” says Kolt about the community’s distinctive ‘Dance down
Main Street’ event. Everyone is welcome to join in this activity on Sunday September 28.
Photo by Daniel Dillon
15
The Coyote
Coyotes are one of
the few species that
has grown in
numbers and
extended its range
since the arrival of
humans. This is
because coyotes
have characteristics
that make them
extremely adaptable.
- Gerry Clark At this time of year there seem to be a lot more “wolf ” sightings in and
around Flin Flon, just as more cats and little dogs seem to go missing. What
most people are seeing and talking about, however, are not wolves at all but
a subspecies of coyote commonly known as brush wolves. The moniker is
logical, as the coyotes that are found in northern Manitoba tend to be a lot
bigger than their cousins down south, so they look more like wolves than
prairie coyotes. A brush wolf can weigh as much as 75 pounds, while the
most prairie coyote weigh less than 44 pounds.
Coyotes are one of the few species that has grown in numbers and
extended its range since the arrival of humans. This is because they have
characteristics that make them extremely adaptable. For example, coyotes
are among the fastest mammals in North America - they’ve been clocked at
nearly 70 kilometres an hour. Coyotes can also jump as high as four metres
(all the better to jump your fences and eat your pets, my dears).
Unfortunately for coyotes, they are slightly slower than one of their
main adversaries, the grey wolf, also known as the timber wolf. When the
grey wolf population goes up, the coyote population goes down. This is
Where all our profits
stay in the community
Cooper says:
“Come see us at the Flin Flon
North of 53 Consumers Co-operative!”
We offer only the freshest choices
in groceries, produce, meats, deli
selections and baked goods, and
we have a full service specialty
meat counter and meat cutters
on site to make sure you get the
cut you want, just how you like
it. We can even smoke it for you
with our on-site smokehouse.
North Of 53 Consumers
Co-Operative Limited has
been a locally owned and
operated community grocer
serving Flin Flon since 1946.
North Of 53 Consumers Co-Operative
Mon-Fri 8am-8pm
29-31 Main Street
Saturday 8am-6pm
Flin Flon, MB R8A 1J5
Sunday 12pm-6pm
www.flinfloncoop.com
16
Wildlife Corner
ing a territory—typically a coyote’s territory will be a 19-kilometre diameter
around its den. The one high-note howl
is a coyote’s calling of its pack, and a
howl of higher and higher notes followed by a series of shrill yips means the
family is all together.
One little known, but interesting,
fact is that there is absolutely no record
of a coyote successfully attacking a
roadrunner.
Runs with wolves
The Trickster
by Gerry Clark
what happened in Yellowstone National
Park recently when the greys were successfully re-introduced.
Apparently though, grey wolves don’t
always treat coyotes as a food source.
Research into coyote DNA shows some
greys had other ideas.
Coyotes don’t have the aura of menace
we grant grey wolves, but this is a mistake.
Coyotes should not be treated carelessly.
They are opportunistic and will eat whatever is available, including road kill. A
recent California study of coyote scat
showed their main source of food was
pets. Coyotes have been known to go after
dogs as big as a Rottweiler, and in packs
have brought down animals as big as an
elk, 15 times their size.
DNA research also shows some crossspecies hanky-panky has occurred with
domestic dogs. This has produced some
worrisome results: The offspring tend to
retain the coyote’s predatory instincts and
acquire the dog’s lack of fear of humans. There have been coyote attacks on
humans. They usually don’t cause serious
injury but there has been one documented
fatal attack. Researchers blame those who
feed coyotes for causing coyotes to become
bolder around humans, but it has also
shown that these “wolf ” attacks all probably
involved coyote-dog hybrids. The good news
is that these “Heinz 57” coyotes are not
increasing in numbers. Research suggests
they have lower fertility rates, don’t make
friends easily and have a higher rate of
genetic disease.
Did you know that the coyote is the
most vocal of all the mammals in North
America? Their howling might just be claim-
One January evening I went skiing
by myself in valley at the Flin Flon Ski
Club. Nobody else was out there. It was
bitterly cold. As often happened, a wolf
howled nearby and as I often did, I
howled back. I do a pretty good wolf
howl imitation, if I do say so myself.
This happened a couple of times as I
skied south around the loop and then it
was quiet for about 15 minutes. I was
going off in the opposite direction when
again a wolf howled, and again I
responded. Only this time I got an
unexpected reaction. This time what I
heard was a whole bunch of wolves, and
they weren’t howling, they were yipping.
It sounded like they were running –
toward me. My first thought was “Boy,
are they going to be surprised to find
I’m not a wolf ” and then I immediately
thought “Oh no, are they ever going to
be pissed off!”.
I panicked, turned around as fast
as I could, and shot back toward the
car. I swear I set a land speed record
for a scared man on skis over a halfkilometre track.
I was so scared that when I came
up to the car I opened the door and
threw myself in, head first, with my
feet still attached to my skis. I even
tried to pull the door closed with my
feet caught outside. I guess I figured I
could cut my losses.
Luckily, the wolves had given up the
chase, but as I undid my bindings I’m
sure I could hear them snickering back
in the dark. They probably thought it
was hilarious.
17
A Vision for
Self-governance
in the North
The Precambrian Proposal
T
~ Jim Parres ~
he idea of a new province in Canada to be called
“Precambrian” came about in the autumn of 1953 when
my father, Lew Parres, presented his thoughts to the Flin
Flon Chamber of Commerce. Parres, a mineral exploration geologist, promoted his idea with the slogan Government in the North,
for the North, by Northerners, who know the needs of the North best.
He suggested that the new province comprise a mineral belt that
would stretch from the Yukon to the western border of Ontario.
“The development of the North is not progressing as efficiently as it should,” read Parres’ submission to the Chamber, “A
possible solution for the attainment of this objective in a smooth
and efficient manner could be a change in the present legislation
controlling this portion of Canada.”
By late October, 1953, the idea of forming new provincial
boundaries had spread like wildfire. In Manitoba, many northerners agreed with Lew Parres that it was time for the miner, trapper
and lumberman to run their own affairs.
While the concept of a new province may seem ambitious, a
look at the events in the North at the time may help to explain the
reasoning that led to this concept, and its considerable popularity
with northern residents.
The Flin Flon orebody was initially discovered in 1915. Due
to numerous logistical problems, such as lack of infrastructure,
metallurgical complexity, and availability (or lack thereof ) of
financing, the mine did not produce blister copper until 1930.
Construction of a railway from The Pas to Flin Flon commenced
in January 1928 and the railroad tracks reached Flin Flon in
October of the same year, a truly prodigious accomplishment.
Until then, all supplies and equipment needed to be freighted into
Flin Flon by tractor trains in the wintertime.
An all-weather highway did not reach Bakers Narrows, on the
outskirts of Flin Flon, until 1950. For 20 years, the only way to get
vehicles into Flin Flon was by the railroad on a flatcar, though it is
possible that some vehicles came in on ice roads.
Despite the lack of infrastructure, Northern Manitoba was
18
Jim Parres tells the story behind his
father’s daring, and still relevant,
proposal for new provincial
boundaries that would better serve
the needs of northern Canadians.
quickly becoming a viable economic entity, with productive
mines in Sherridon, Flin Flon, Lynn Lake and great potential in
the nickel belt near Thompson.
A lot of northerners believed that the development of roads
and infrastructure in the north of the province was not a pressing
matter to the provincial government. Meanwhile, southern
Manitoba had become fairly well developed with a complex road
system linking farms and other enterprises with major cities. At
the time of Parres’ proposal, many northerners felt isolated and
frustrated as they watched tax dollars, both personal and from
industry, flow south to Winnipeg.
In a brief that he wrote for his presentation to the Flin Flon
Chamber of Commerce in 1953, Parres noted, “It is difficult for
men of one occupation to pass legislation suitable for men of an
entirely different vocation. For instance, it is difficult for miners
to understand and pass legislation adaptable to the requirements
of farmers, and vice-versa." Parres was raised on a southern
Saskatchewan farm, and was well aware that he would have to
sell his concept of a new province to the farmers of Manitoba,
Saskatchewan and Alberta, as they were the people who controlled the various provincial governments by way of voting
population.
Following his presentation to the Flin Flon Chamber of
Commerce, the news of Lew Parres’ idea appeared in newspapers
across the country, and was a particularly hot news story in western Canada. CBC Winnipeg gave Parres 30 minutes of television
airtime to explain his proposal.
The idea for a new province seemed to be growing as it was
presented to both the Manitoba Legislature and the Canadian
Chamber of Commerce. Unfortunately, the idea died there on
Newspapers across western Canada publicized Lew Parres’ proposal in 1953.
Photo by Libby Stoker-Lavelle
the vine, so to speak.
Although the province of
Precambrian never came to
pass, I believe that my father’s
proposal was well thought
out, and it contained a lot of
merit. At the very least, it
may have helped to educate
some of our southern residents about northern needs.
If so, then it could be considered a successful exercise.
Journalist Ben Metcalfe
summed this point up well in
an article entitled “A Province
of Rocks for ‘Premier’ Parres,”
which appeared in the
Winnipeg Free Press soon after
the controversial proposal was
announced.
“Informed opinion north
and south says Mr. Parres’
plan will never come to pass,”
notes Metcalfe, “Indeed, it is
inconceivable that Mr.
Manning, Mr. Douglas or
Mr. Campbell would ever
allow anyone to scrape the
icing off their wheatcakes just
because they’re a little slow in
getting round to eating it
themselves. But this same
opinion recognizes what is
known as 'sufficient merit' in
the idea to needle the farmand-oil governments into
faster action in developing
the northern tiers of their
provinces. If it did that,
Premier Parres of the nevernever land of Pre-Cambria
would probably be happy
enough.”
A Government
for the North, Today
There is no doubt in my
mind that Parres’ proposal for
separation is even more
important and relevant today
than it was back in the 1950s.
Northerners still feel left out
of decision-making, and the
interests and needs of farmers
and miners remain markedly
different. →
19
Precambrian Proposal
Key Concepts
In an exclusive interview with Flin Flon's
Daily Reminder newspaper on October 29,
1953, Lew Parres explained that his proposal
would not result in an additional province,
but instead would reduce the number from
10 to nine, thereby shrinking unnessessary
bureaucracy in the country. His proposal
suggested that western Canada, consisting
of British Columbia, Saskatchewan,
Manitoba, Alberta, Yukon and Northwest
Territories, be reduced to three provinces:
Precambria, Rupertsland and British
Columbia. The divisions Parres recommended
were as follows:
“The province referred to as Precambria
would be composed of the Yukon, that
portion of lowland stretching through the
Northwest Territories and the Precambrian
Shield stretching from the Arctic to the
Manitoba-Ontario boundary. Rupertsland
would be bounded on the west by the
present Alberta-British Columbia boundary,
on the east by a line running parallel to and
slightly south of the present interior planes
and the Canadian Shield contact, on the
north by the 60th parallel of latitude and on
the south by the 49th parallel of latitude.
British Columbia would remain intact.”
Parres outlined six key wishes for the
new province of Precambria:
Decrease exploration costs.
•
Taxes would be levied by northerners
and spent by northerners.
•
There would be one set of regulations
for mining and exploration.
•
The Precambrian Proposal also addressed the following:
Gasoline tax: Gasoline taxes were seen as unfair for industries operating
in remote areas. A diamond drill operating 640 kilometres back in the
bush paid nine cents per gallon in highway tax.
•
Attracting Canadian capital: Northern industries needed support in
attracting Canadian investors; it was easier to attract foreign investment
than Canadian capital.
Resource investigation committees would
be hired as consultants.
Metal control: The federal government controlled the price of uranium,
subsidized gold, and influenced the price of copper and nickel. Parres
argued that legislators from the North would be more qualified to meet
and cope with these circumstances.
A constant mutual business relationship
would be maintained between the
companies’ councils and the federal
government.
Self-sufficiency: Parres noted that there was much good farmland in the
Yukon and around The Pas. The newly-created province would have
ample power, fish, fur and timber. Cheap power would attract manufacturing. Industries would flourish, and no ore bodies would be left
undeveloped.
There should be a non-political elected
governing council, like the Yukon had
in place at the time.
•
•
20
By looking at the ongoing issue of road development, we can see just
how relevant this issue is today. It is no secret that the total costs associated
with accessing and running remote reservations in northern Canada are
astronomical. Road development in the North would bring these costs
down significantly and improve the quality of life for northern Canadians.
These roads would also provide access to new areas of mineral potential. A
great example of this is the road that now provides access to the rich uranium deposit at Patterson Lake in northern Saskatchewan.
Yes, roads cost a lot of money to build, especially in the Canadian
Shield, but building them also provides a lot of jobs.
It would take the full co-operation of both the federal and provincial
governments to make this happen, cooperation which would only be
attained through tremendous public pressure. Perhaps instead of sending
charitable donations to other countries, so we can look good on the world
stage, we could utilize those funds here for the benefit and harmony of all
Canadians.
If you think northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan have their problems,
look at northwestern and northeastern Ontario. This area contributes a
large percentage of tax revenues from resource extraction to the government. The Trans-Canada Highway passes through this area of the shield as
two segments. Proceeding west they merge at Nipigon and diverge again at
Shabaqua, a distance of 170 kms. This portion of the Trans-Canada should
have been twinned 40 years ago to accommodate the heavy truck traffic
there, especially during the winter. There are serious accidents or incidents
almost on a daily basis, yet the Ontario government has chosen to largely
ignore the need for a safe highway, instead spending enormous amounts of
money on projects like gun registries and incomplete gas plants. Meanwhile,
due to heavy truck traffic and sleep deprived drivers, an unacceptable number of people die on these roads.
The idea of northern Ontario separating from southern Ontario, so that
northerners can make decisions for northerners, has been a volatile topic for
years. While the debate is ongoing, however, the voting power is in the
south, much as it is for northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan. And so our
provinces remain as they are.
A photographic tour of Churchill with Scott Kurytnik
Belugas ...
Oh My!
and Bears ...
and Seals ...
On July 11, Scott Kurytnik, winner of the Cottage North photo contest, headed to Churchill to claim
his prize, a three-day stay at Lazy Bear Lodge and a whale-watching tour. Kurytnik and his wife,
Alanna, enjoyed a relaxing vacation and captured some gorgeous shots of Churchill’s unique landscapes
and wildlife. On the following pages, Scott shares some of the highlights from their adventure.
WELCOME
NEW AND
RETURNING
STUDENTS!
GOOD LUCK WITH THE
UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR!
For more information about
programs or campus life, visit
www.ucn.ca
OWN YOUR FUTURE
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF THE NORTH
21
These playful seals entertained the travellers on their boat tour.
Polar bears are a less common sight in Churchill during the summer months,
but the Kurytniks saw quite a few over their three-day trip.
The Lazy Bear Café is a hub of life at Lazy Bear
Lodge. Cottage North photo contest winner
Scott Kurytnik relaxes between excursions.
~ Photos & story by Scott Kurytnik ~
The tour guide explained that beluga whales are a darker colour when they are
born and become whiter as they age.
22
Our Churchill journey began in Winnipeg
where, due to some inclement weather, we had a
short delay. We then had a short flight and stop
off in Thompson prior to heading to Churchill.
We landed a bit late in Churchill but our driver,
Tress, was waiting for us and was ready to take us
to Lazy Bear Lodge.
We pulled up to a beautiful, rustic lodge and
were delighted to hear that we were just in time
for our cultural driving tour of Churchill. After a
quick check-in, we were off in a repurposed
school bus. Our first stop was at Fort Churchill
where we received a quick history lesson about the
area. Thanks to our guide, Gerald’s keen eye we
even spotted a far off polar bear! This was great as
we were unsure whether we would see any polar
bears on the trip, as they tend to be less active
during the summer. We enjoyed the beautiful
landscape, including the rocky coastline and the
many wildflowers in bloom. We also took notice
of the surprising number of beluga whales in the
river and bay. The tour continued through the
various sights of Churchill, including the infamous polar bear jail. (See Churchill facts.)
Prior to finishing our tour, we were delighted
to see another polar bear lounging on the rocks
near the bay. We then headed back to the lodge
for a leisurely dinner before heading off for a
beluga whale tour.
We were glad to see that Gerald would be our
guide for the boat tour, and he didn’t disappoint.
Churchill Facts
Churchill is one of the few towns in the
world where you might come across a
2,000-pound polar bear while picking up
your groceries! Most polar bears that
wander into the town of Churchill are
humanely trapped, then kept in the Polar
Bear Jail (located in a former aircraft
storage hangar) until they can be safely
transported back to the wild.
• Visitors can only reach Churchill by air
or rail—there are no access roads into
the remote community.
We spotted several inquisitive seals,
a multitude of beluga whales and some
more sleepy bears!
Some of the highlights of the boat
tour included a mother polar bear with
her two-year-old cub cuddling by the
bay, a playful seal couple, and a mother
and baby beluga. We learned that beluga whales are a darker colour when they
are born and become whiter as they
age.
Another highlight was the whales
being attracted to the engine of the
boat; we had several groups of three
swimming behind us. Gerald even had a
hydrophone so we could hear their
many different calls, which were absolutely amazing. Inclement weather made
the water too murky to snorkel, however the whales were so close to the boat
you could have hypothetically reached
out and touched them. We definitely
got a good look at a lot of whales; there
must have been hundreds of them in
the bay.
A beluga breaks the surface.
• The daily average temperature in
Churchill in July is 12° celsius. In January,
it’s -26.7°c
• According to Travel Manitoba, there are
approximately 3,000 beluga whales in
the Churchill River Estuary, and between
900 and 1,000 polar bears in the region
surrounding Churchill.
• Approximately 813 people call Churchill
home, according to 2011 census data.
• The community was named after John
Churchill, who was the third governor of
the Hudson’s Bay Company.
The following day was a leisurely
one, as the tours were all cancelled due
to the windy and rainy weather.
We had a wonderfully relaxing day,
which included a gourmet breakfast,
some sightseeing around town, a museum visit, and shopping. Highlights
included meeting one of the cutest puppies outside a shop, and heading to the
Northern Store to see that a gallon of
milk was indeed $10.99. The evening
was topped off by a great dinner of arctic char.
The next day, we had another leisurely morning and filling breakfast
followed by a trip to the airport and
flight home. The lodge was great, with
all of the expected amenities and more.
The staff were very helpful and accommodating.
It was a great trip, we feel very fortunate to have won and to have been able
to visit Churchill and see all of the
beauty in the area. Thank you to Cottage
North and Lazy Bear Lodge! Scott and Alanna at Lazy Bear Lodge. Since their trip, the two shutterbugs welcomed
a new baby, Lily, into their family. Congratulations!
An inukshuk stands out against
red Churchill rock.
Belugas play in the Churchill River estuary.
This sweet Churchill pup won Scott Kurytnik’s
heart.
23
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24
The Sturgeon
River Armada
A modern folk band
gets back to basics
~ Libby Stoker-Lavelle ~
Brooklyn Samson and David Fort, two hypno-folk musicians, took on
wolverines and rapids in their canoe tour through northern Manitoba
and Saskatchewan.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Like many other Canadian musicians, guitarist
Dave Fort and violinist Brooklyn Samson spend their
summers touring the country and sharing their music
with fans. What makes their approach unique, however, is that the two artists have eschewed the comforts
of the typical band bus or van, favouring a more traditional mode of travel: a two-seater canoe.
The two artists perform as a hypno-folk band
called Twin, and over the past several years they have
toured by canoe along the Mississipi, Los Angeles, and
Assiniboine rivers.
“The idea to tour by canoe came to me while I was
on a road tour with my other band, Absent Sound,”
says Fort, who was born and raised in Flin Flon. “I
have always been obsessed with maps, so on our road
tours I would be looking at rivers and creeks, and as we
crossed them I would dream about paddling on them,
and seeing where they would go. That cartoon lightbulb just popped up over my head and I thought,
‘this could be done!'”
→
The touring musicians took
a break at Namew Lake.
The Spencer family of
Flin Flon lent this canoe
to the two musicians
for their northern tour. SUBMITTED PHOTO
25
Conversation about Finances is Important for Newlyweds
- Lenna Gowenlock, Edward Jones -
I
f you are recently married, or getting married this fall, you no
doubt have many exciting details to discuss with your
spouse-to-be. But after you get back from the honeymoon,
you’ll want to have another discussion—about your finances. It
might not sound glamorous, but couples who quickly “get on
the same page” regarding their financial situation are actually
taking a step that can help them immensely as they build their
lives together.
As you start talking about your finances, be sure to cover
these areas:
Separate or joint chequing/savings accounts
Debts
Both you and your spouse will need to invest if you are going to
achieve your goals, such as a comfortable retirement. However, each
of you may have a different investment style—for example, one of
you might be an aggressive investor, willing to take more risk for the
possibility of greater returns, while the other is more conservative,
ready to accept lower returns in exchange for greater preservation
of principal. To pursue your strategy for reaching your objectives,
each of you may have to compromise somewhat on your “investment personality.” To achieve this balance, you may need to consult
with a financial advisor.
Finances are an important part of any marriage. By communicating regularly and working together, you and your spouse can build a
solid financial foundation for your lives together.
©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.
Spending and Saving
Newlyweds are often surprised to discover how different they
are from each other in the area of spending versus saving.You don’t
have to try to radically change each other, but you both need to be
aware that your spending and saving decisions now have greater
consequences than when you were both single. To illustrate: if one
of you is more of a spender and is used to running up big credit card
bills, these actions can clearly affect both of you. To avoid problems
of this type, you will need to communicate clearly with each other.
SYS-3595B-C AUG 2012
Both you and your spouse may be bringing in debts, such as
student loans or credit cards, to the marriage.You don’t necessarily
have to do everything possible to get rid of these debts immediately, but you should set up reasonable payment plans that will allow
you to lower your overall debt load so you can free up money to
invest for the future.
SYS-3595B-C
SYS-3595B-C
SYS-3595B-C
AUG
AUG2012
2012
AUG 2012
Some couples create joint chequing and savings accounts, others
keep everything separate and still others find a middle ground —
joint accounts along with smaller, separate accounts. There’s really
no one “right” way for everyone, but whichever method you
choose, make sure you’re both aware of where your money is, how
it can be accessed, and by whom.
Investment Styles
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When do each of you want to retire? And what sort of retirement
lifestyle do you have in mind? By answering these and other key
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#1-53 MainLenna
Street Gowenlock, CFP®
Lenna Gowenlock,
Flin Flon, MB R8ACFP®
1J7
www.edwardjones.com
www.edwardjones.com
www.edwardjones.com
Lenna Gowenlock,
#1-53CFP®
Main Street
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www.edwardjones.com
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Financial Advisor
Financial204-687-5390
Advisor
26
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14
204
submitted photo
This year, the band’s travels took them through northern Manitoba and
Saskatchewan, along the Sturgeon and Saskatchewan rivers. Their journey
included performances with local musicians along the way, in Denare Beach,
Sturgeon Landing, Cumberland House and The Pas. The two ran into their
share of wildlife as well, spending a night on a sandbar on the Saskatchewan
River with a wolverine within earshot. “I’m pretty sure we were unwanted
guests that night,” recalls Fort, “so I played drums nice and loud on the canoe
to keep him or her at bay.”
Of course, travelling through such an isolated route presented some
mental and physical challenges.
“We had just finished the first big set of rapids on the South Sturgeon,”
says Fort, “and had almost tipped, taking in a lot of water, and barely steering
the boat from a set that would have surely tipped a water-logged canoe. As
we were bailing out trying to get our wits about us, it sank into me hard...
it’s just us! On the other tours there were indeed challenges, but there was
always a road somewhere relatively close. It had been a while since I had been
in the isolated wilderness, and it was Brooklyn’s first time.”
Luckily for the waiting audiences, the pair sorted themselves out. “We
bailed the canoe, talked for a bit on land and reaffirmed that we could do
this, then plunged into the next set of rapids.”
All along the canoe route, community members pitched in to make the
tour a success, cooking up food for barbecues, lending the pair equipment,
and promoting the local shows. Flin Flon painter Karen Clark gave the band
a huge banner to take on their journey; at each stop, members of the audience made their own mark by contributing signatures and drawings to the
collaborative work of art.
Following their successful northern tour, Samson and Fort plan to spread
their new album, North Americana, much further afield, on tours along the
Twin’s latest album cover pays tribute to their
northern trek.
Assiniboine, Mississippi, Milwaukee, Chicago, and
Sacramento rivers. They hope to return north again soon,
with a possible future tour on the Churchill River.
Readers can follow Twin’s adventures at
www.armadatwin.com or hear their music
at twintwa.bandcamp.com
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27
Wild cranberry
&
hazelnut tarts
By Libby Stoker-Lavelle
Recipe by Sandra Garinger
When I was searching for a good recipe for
our September issue, Sandra Garinger was the
first person who came to mind. By day, Garinger
is a guidance counsellor at Hapnot Collegiate;
she is also a superb chef and gardener with
extensive knowledge of the foods that are native
to the area.
Garinger generously offered to share some
of her freshly picked low-bush cranberries with
me, in the form of these spectacular tarts.
“This recipe evolved from a pecan pie recipe
made by Helen Bron,” Garinger explained. “I
bought the pie at a bake sale and the recipe was
included with it.” Over the years, Garinger has
adapted that original recipe, adjusting ingredients and proportions to best highlight the tart
flavour of the lowbush cranberries that are
found in late summer and fall in our region.
Garinger experimented with two approaches
for this recipe, making her own dough for an
artisan-style pie, and using store-bought shells
for a tart version. “You can really use any pastry
you prefer, homemade or pre-made,” she noted.
“I like to use a shortbread style crust, if I make
this as a pie, but it’s also perfect for tarts,
because each serving is just the right amount of
sweetness.”
Of course, I felt compelled to taste the
results of the recipe. Journalistic integrity, and
all that.
Let me assure you: with fragrant pastry,
gooey maple filling and juicy cranberries that
pop in your mouth mid-bite, you really can’t go
wrong with this dessert.
Eddie’s Feeling inspired by this recipe?
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28
Ingredients
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
½ cup melted butter
¾ cup brown sugar
1 cup hazelnuts**
¾ cup maple syrup*
1-1 ½ cups wild lowbush cranberries***
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
Pie crust or tart shells (homemade or store-bought)
1 egg white (optional, for glazing)
Substitutions
* Can substitute corn syrup or a mixture of maple and corn syrup.
** Substitute chopped or slivered almonds or pecans.
*** Substitute store-bought cranberries, but finely chopped, as they are
larger than wild ones. Do not use high-bush cranberries (their seeds are too
large), or blueberries, (they are too sweet for this recipe).
Directions
Pre-heat oven to 375°F
1
Roast the hazelnuts in the oven, or
toast for a few minutes in a frying
pan until fragrant.
Let the hazelnuts cool on a tea
towel, and then rub off shells.
Chop hazelnuts, or crush with a
rolling pin.
3
Prepare pie dough or tart shells
Use a spoon to add a couple of
tablespoons of the filling to each
tart, up to the rim of the shell, or
pour the filling into the pie shell.
2
Add eggs, sugar, syrup, vinegar,
vanilla and butter to a medium bowl
and stir until blended.
Add chopped hazelnuts and berries
and stir to mix.
4
Add egg white or a milk wash on
the top of the pie crust to glaze – if
desired.
Bake for 25-30 minutes for pie, 15 minutes for tarts, or until pastry is
browned and sauce is bubbling; some cranberries may pop during the baking
process. Let cool for 15 minutes or so.
Serve the tarts or pie warm or cold. Garnish with vanilla ice cream or whipped
cream flavoured with Cointreau. Once baked, the tarts keep well in the freezer.
About low-bush
cranberries
The low-bush cranberry, vaccinium oxycoccus, is also known as a lingonberry; mossberry; and wild, swamp, or bog cranberry.
Low-bush cranberries grow on perennial
shrubs throughout Canada and parts of the
northern U.S. in the late summer and fall.
They grow very low to the ground, and are
more common in moist soils and bog-like
areas. In northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan,
look for low-bush cranberries along the fissures of large rocks or along the stumps of
trees.
When ripe, the low-bush cranberry is a
deep red colour, similar to a commercial
cranberry but much smaller, up to 1.2 cm
wide. In addition to their tart flavour, cranberries are popular for their health benefits:
they are an excellent source of antioxidants
and flavonols.
According to the USDA plant database,
numerous North American indigenous
groups have traditionally gathered cranberries for either medicinal use or as a source of
nutrition and flavour. This berry also grows
wild in parts of Europe and is often featured
in jams, jellies and desserts on both sides of
the pond.
High-bush vs.
low-bush cranberries
The high-bush cranberry, or viburnum
trilobum, grows on tall shrubs, about two
metres high. Its berries have a similar flavour
to the low-bush cranberry, however highbush cranberries should not be used for the
recipe above, due to their larger seeds.
29
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B-47 Explosion
& Rescue
When the Cold War came to
Big Sandy Lake, Saskatchewan
By Morley G. Naylor
Retired B-47s at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in the 1960s.
The US B-47 fleet was an unstoppable nuclear strike force.
Photo by US Air Force
It is early in the Cold War, 1955. The rivalry between the
United States and the Soviet Union is resulting in mutual suspicions and heightened tensions. Nuclear weapons are the perceived
threat on both sides as the two superpowers hover on the brink of
disaster in the world’s deadliest poker game.
In May 1955, the tension mounts to new levels as the Warsaw
Pact is established in Eastern Europe, including East Germany,
Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Albania, Bulgaria,
and, of course, the Soviet Union. This pact solidifies the communist counterpart to the US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO), an intergovernmental military alliance.
On both sides, reliable inter-continental ballistic missiles, or
ICBMs, were still many years away from deployment, so any
nuclear strike would have to be delivered by a strategic bomber.
At the time, the Soviet Union had a limited fleet of a four-
engined strategic heavy bombers, the Myasishchev M-4, also
known as the Bison.
On the other side, the American military possessed a large fleet
of the Boeing B-47 Stratojet, the perfect strategic weapon for its
time. Soviet leaders knew that the aircraft, deployed in huge numbers around the world, gave the US an unstoppable nuclear strike
force. With these aircraft, the US would be able to penetrate
Soviet defences and attack any target in the Soviet empire. The US
manufactured 2,032 of these bombers of different variants, at a
cost of approximately US$2 million each.
Strategic Air Command (SAC) controlled the B-47 operations
and the one-third alert policy was in place, where one third of the
fleet was armed and in the air; one-third was fuelled and armed on
an alert ramp adjacent to a runway; and the final one-third was
undergoing maintenance.
31
B-47 Crew
Photos courtesy Mike Bennett,
Project-Get Out and Walk, Tamworth, England
The residents of the Canadian north
were unaware of the mission above.
Disaster Strikes at
10,000 Feet
Major Robert Dowdy
Captain Lester Epton
Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth McGrew
Captain Thomas Pittman
Operation Bobsled
It was nearing dawn on February 12,
1955, a sleepy and cold Saturday morning. A B-47 strategic bomber was returning from an SAC training mission,
Operation Bobsled. The mission had
taken the crew from the March Air Force
Base in Riverside, California to Thule,
Greenland. The bomber was flying at
about 10,000 feet on the last leg of its
polar flight home.
The four men on the aircraft included
the aircraft commander, Lieutenant
Colonel Kenneth McGrew, age 33; co-pilot Captain Lester Epton, age 33; an
observer, Major Robert Dowdy, age 31;
and Captain Thomas Pittman, 34.
32
Pittman, a B-47 pilot in his own right,
had gone along for the ride to test out a
new type of survival suit.
Unbeknownst to Pittman, both he and
the survival suit would soon be put to the
ultimate test.
The four men had flown across the
continental United States, over the Atlantic
Ocean toward The Azores, north towards
Greenland, then across Hudson Bay. All
seemed routine as the bombers of the 19th
Bomb Squadron of 22 Bombardment
Wing prepared to return to California.
The B-47 bomber flew over Nipawin,
Cumberland House, and The Pas, and
was approaching Big Sandy Lake,
Saskatchewan.
The bomber formation had just finished refuelling in the air when a fire began
in one of the right engines. Moments later,
the fuselage caught fire, and soon the calm
of the Canadian wilderness was violently
broken as B-47 51-7033A burst into
flame.
Miraculously, three of the four men on
the flight survived the harrowing explosion
and their subsequent descent into unknown
territory—in the midst of a northern winter.
The crew’s experiences were captured in
statements to a board of inquiry following
the B-47 incident. These statements were
obtained from U.S. authorities by Oren
Robison, editor of the Nipawin Bridge
Magazine.
“The mission was proceeding normally
after the second refuelling when the accident occurred,” recalled Captain Lester
Epton, the co-pilot. “Number four and five
pod blew up and were on fire when I
looked out. The aircraft commander retarded to cut off numbers four, five, and six
throttles, and actuated fire shutdown on
those engines.”
The commander, Lieutenant Colonel
Kenneth McGrew, decided to “take a few
seconds to try to blow the flames out by
diving to increase airspeed.”
“I called to the number five aircraft in
the formation to have him drop down and
confirm the fire in the fuselage,” recalled
the pilot.
“In a few minutes the fire in four and five
pods burned out,” said co-pilot Epton. “I
believe that the fuselage was on fire just aft
[to the rear] of the pilot’s compartment and
I advised the pilot of this and also instructed
the passenger, Captain Pittman, to put his
chute on and be ready to abandon aircraft.”
“When the aircraft accelerated, the
flames persisted,” said McGrew, “and I
was going to give the word to leave the
aircraft, when a violent explosion was
felt, which threw me forward and to the left in my
seat.”
The Aircraft Falls Apart
Captain Lester Epton recalled the aftermath vividly
in his statements to the board: “We went in to what
seemed to me to be a violent snap roll to the right and
I thought the right wing had broken off. At the same
instant, some flying object hit me in the face and I
immediately thought of the ejection triggers on the
seat. Almost at the same time, I was thrown clear of the
aircraft and found myself falling face up, and I could see
pieces of aircraft above me. The chute opened normally
and I don’t recall any opening shock. I saw another
chute while I was floating down, and landed without
further incident in a group of small pine trees.”
The pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth McGrew,
remembered feeling the aircraft depressurizing. “The
next thing I knew I was free of the aircraft, drifting
down in my open chute,” he said. “I saw one chute
below me and called once but received no answer. I saw
a flaming part of the aircraft on the ground. I landed
without much of a jolt in about two feet of snow.”
Captain Thomas Pittman, the passenger aboard,
had the most damaging exit from the bomber. “Suddenly,
co-pilot Epton punched me and yelled at me to fasten
my parachute…I was slammed through the air and I
believe my crash helmet struck the auto pilot. At the
same time I believe I sustained a compound fracture to
my right leg.”
“The next thing I remember was being down in the
nose with [Major Robert] Dowdy and he was slumped
in his seat, definitely unconscious. I tried to release his
safety belt and pull his ripcord and fire the seat, but was
unable to do so. Finally, something swung me loose and
I lost my handhold on his seat. As I did so, it slung me
around and pulled me to the rear of the nose section.
The next thing I knew I was going out a hole where the
A-5 gunnery equipment was located.”
The Wreckage
As the three survivors descended by parachute, the
wreckage of the bomber was scattered across several
kilometres of the snow-covered landscape near Big
Sandy Lake, Saskatchewan
The pilot, McGrew, was thrown clear of the aircraft and made a successful parachute descent, hitting only small trees on landing. This bailout was his
first parachute jump. McGrew had no survival gear
for the -28° C weather, just his uniform and flight
boots. Luckily, McGrew was found by nightfall the
A B-47 Stratojet flies near the Boeing production plant
in Wichita, Kansas, 11 August 1950.
Specifications of the Boeing B47
Stratojet Strategic Bomber*
A long-range, six-engine, jet-powered strategic bomber
manufactured by Boeing. Designed to fly at high subsonic
speeds and high altitudes to avoid enemy interception. US Air
Force’s first swept-wing multi-engine bomber, it had jet-assisted
takeoff capability on a short runway, with 18 small rocket units
in the fuselage.
Introduced: June 1951 First flight: 17 Dec, 1947 Retired: 1966
Top speed: 977 km/hr (607 mph)
Length: 33 metres (107.1 ft)
Wingspan: 35 metres (116 ft)
Height: 8.54 metres (28 ft)
Engine type: General Electric J47 turbojet
Gross weight: 133,030 lbs (60,340 kg)
Maximum range: 8,030 kilometres (4,990 miles)
Ceiling: 40,500 ft
Combat radius (max distance from base to mission/task and
return): 3,794 kilometres (2,358 miles)
Accommodation: Crew of three
Armament: Two 20 mm canons (remote control)
Bomb Payload: Two MK15 nuclear bombs (3.8 megaton
yield**) or one B41 nuclear bombs (25 megaton yield)
or one B-53 nuclear bombs (nine megaton yield)
or 28 500-pound conventional bombs.
*some technical specifications differ on variant models of B47
**megaton yield refers to the amount of energy discharged by a nuclear weapon
compared to the mass of the weapon
33
the aftermath of the crash, all of these
organizations exhibited great courage.
Our story focuses on one of those entities, the Saskatchewan Government Airways
(SGA), and a regional pilot, Bob Fletcher.
We are pleased to provide the account of
Fletcher’s role, courtesy of his son Doug,
who recalls the events of February 12 and
13, 1955, as told to him by his father.
U-2 Spyplane Down
1960
B-47 Stratojet
Explosion/ Crash
1995
USAF Crash Sites Saskatchewan
USAF crash sites in northern Saskatchewan.
same day, then evacuated to Cumberland
House and on to The Pas.
Captain Epton, the co-pilot, who was
thrown clear of the bomber, had to spend
the night in the wilderness before he was
rescued. Remarkably, he landed about 1.5
miles from McGrew, but had to watch his
superior’s rescue helplessly, unable to attract
the attention of the para-rescue team.
Major Dowdy, the observer, was not so
fortunate – he had been trapped in his seat,
which failed to eject, and was rendered
unconscious by the tumbling aircraft. A
ground crew, which dropped in by helicopter, reached the wrecked fuselage and found
the body of Dowdy still strapped into his
seat, half buried in muskeg.
As for Captain Pittman, who had joined
the Stratojet crew on the flight to try out
some new survival gear, none of the others
saw his parachute open, and there was no
trace at the fuselage wreckage site. For two
days he was an unknown commodity.
Pittman had, however, survived, though
his leg had been broken on his exit from
the aircraft, and the injury was worsened
34
Map by Morley Naylor
when he landed on the leg after parachuting into the wilderness.
Pittman later credited his trial survival
suit with saving his life as he endured three
bitterly cold nights in the wilderness, without food or water. He, too, suffered the
agony of laying in the snow helplessly as
search planes flew overhead. A red piece of
material, originally mistaken for a helicopter ground marker, turned out to be the red
dot on Pittman’s parachute, and after several more passes, search plane efforts confirmed the location of the airman. Pittman
was lifted from the site and flown to
Winnipeg for medical treatment. His leg
was later amputated.
Rescue Efforts in Big Sandy Bay
and Beyond
Many entities scrambled to rescue the
downed air crew of the B-47 Stratojet,
including the US Air Force, Royal
Canadian Air Force, RCMP, local area
personnel, and medical authorities. In
Dad got a call early in the morning of
February 12 regarding the crash of a US Air
Force B-47 Stratojet. It was before sun up.
Dad was told the Air Force was grounded,
and he was asked if he would go out and start
the search for the downed plane. Whenever I
could get Dad to speak of the event he always
insisted he and Bill were on site and found the
wreckage before the Air Force and SAR ever
showed up. It was mid-February, and the
snow was very deep that year.
Dad got hold of Bill Porter, a close friend
and SGA aircraft maintenance engineer. They
met at the Prince Albert hangar before sun
up. They decided to head out in a skiequipped De Havilland Beaver. Dad must
have decided early on that it would be a full
day with an uncertain schedule. He had no
idea what, if anything, they would find. He
recalled that he and Bill loaded two drums of
aviation gasoline into the back of the Beaver
and off they went early that morning, headed
east-north-east to search an area in the general vicinity that would see them west-northwest of Cumberland House.
The weather that day was poor with some
snow flurries. Having flown with my father
on many occasions under various weather
conditions, I am not sure what it would take
to ground him.
Dad flew a grid search pattern. As a former Naval aviator, navigation was one of his
strong points and he kept to a strict flight
path. In those days, navigation was done with
dead reckoning and compass only. There were
no electronic navigation aids available and no
emergency locator transmitters on downed
aircraft.
It did not take them long to spot wreckage
from the downed jet. As Dad recalled, the
debris was scattered over 10-15 miles (16-19
kilometres). The weather was not good early
in the day and Dad had to stay under the
cloud cover and deal with the occasional snow
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Strategic Air Command B-47 Stratojet bombers
squall. As the morning wore on, the weather steadily improved. They
eventually spotted one of the airmen on a slough or small lake. Dad
recalled he stood out against the background rather well, as he was
standing on a survival raft that must have been part of his survival
gear. Dad decided to put the Beaver down on the snow-covered,
frozen body of water. I asked him how that went and he said the only
difficulty was the snow was extremely soft and deep that year. He
spent considerable time making sure he had a good track built to
ensure he would be able to get off the small body of frozen water. The
Beaver was loaded with the extra gas drums and would now have
three passengers and one pilot. The SGA crew did not know it at the
time, but Captain Epton had landed in his parachute about one and
a half miles away and was watching the rescue efforts, although he
was not able to move or get their attention.
They loaded Colonel McGrew onto the Beaver and flew him to
a medical facility at
Cumberland House. Dad
and Bill then returned to
the search area. By this time
at least one other search and
rescue plane had joined the
efforts.
Captain Epton was
located later that afternoon,
about one and a half miles
from where they had picked
up Colonel McGrew. By
that time a DC-3 had
arrived with SAR personnel
Captain Lester Epton
on board. Three technicians, including a female
nurse, parachuted from the
DC-3 to the downed Epton. The technicians built a fire and tended
to Epton throughout the night, building a tent of sorts out of his
parachute.
As darkness set in, Dad and his crew flew to Cumberland house.
The next morning, Dad returned in the Beaver. He, Bill and a third
individual walked in to where Epton and the SAR team were
"I was thrown clear of
the aircraft and found
myself falling face up,
and I could see pieces
of aircraft above me."
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located. Fifty years later, Dad still recalled how deep the snow was
and how difficult it was to get to the downed airman and then to
walk out. I believe they took him out on a sled to the small lake
where Dad had left the Beaver. After getting the party back to the
lake they were loaded on the plane and Dad flew them out. By this
time I believe a second ski-equipped plane may have arrived at the site
but that is just speculation on my part. Dad again flew the party to
Cumberland House. From Cumberland they loaded up and headed
back to Prince Albert.
A forces helicopter had been dispatched but it had to put down in
northern Manitoba and had not arrived by the time Epton was rescued. After Epton and the SAR team were flown out, that pretty much
ended Dad’s involvement as the Air Force was now circling the area
in search of the other two persons who had been on board. Captain
Pittman was located alive on the third day.
Robert
Fletcher
later
received
a
letter
of
commendation from the commanding officer of the 22nd
Bombardment Wing for his role in the rescue.
In a weird twist of fate, approximately five years later on 15
March, 1960, a U-2 Spyplane (of the type piloted by Francis Gary
Powers) piloted by US Air Force Captain Roger Cooper, encountered a flameout and made an emergency landing on Wapawekka
Lake just south of the community of La Ronge. The aircraft was
returning from a mission over the Soviet Union. The landing site
on Wapawekka Lake is approximately 70 km north west of the
B-47 crash area.
The SGA crew battled inclement weather to rescue the survivors from the B-47
crash. From left are Bill Porter, Roy Brooman, and Bob Fletcher.
Photo courtesy of Doug Fletcher
Robert Fletcher
Robert Fletcher was raised on a
homestead in Saskatchewan in a family
of 11 children. He completed extra
education to join the Royal Canadian Air
Force during the Second World War. He
was awarded pilot’s wings and applied
for combat duty. Fletcher was appointed
as a flight instructor, and later was
accepted into the Naval Fleet Arm. He
served overseas in England before being
honourably discharged in 1946.
From 1946 to 1952, Fletcher flew in the
forest fire patrol and air ambulance in
Saskatchewan.
In 1952, Fletcher was awarded a degree
in Aeronautical Engineering from the
University of Chicago, and began flying
full time for the SGA while living in
Prince Albert. He spent most of his flying
time on DC-3, Anson V, Norseman, PBY
and Beaver planes.
36
Boeing B-47E-65-BW during a rocket-assisted take off test, with a
Lockheed F-80 as a chase plane.
The Nuclear Question
While the B-47 Stratojet was the perfect strategic bomber for
its time, it also suffered losses on a scale that would be intolerable
today. Over its lifetime, 203 aircraft, 10% of the total fleet, were
lost in crashes, with 464 deaths, as the race to win the Cold War
nearly spun out of control. The aircraft introduced a new flight
performance regime that required new skills and greater precision.
It was a hybrid of WWII metallurgy, construction techniques, and
aerodynamic theory that was sometimes inadequate for the new
era of jet engines. In addition, the bomber was introduced at a
time when the American Strategic Air Command was undergoing
an explosive expansion in size that diluted standardization efforts
and the effectiveness of training and safety procedures. Despite
these difficulties, it is clear that the world would be much different
today were it not for the B-47 Stratojet, and those who participated in the Cold War combat mission.
Of course, the burning issue of the incident remains: Was the
ill-fated B-47 Stratojet bomber carrying any type of nuclear armament? Was Operation Bobsled really just a routine SAC training
mission as the US Air Force claimed? We aren’t likely to ever know
the answers for sure, although we can rely on the old maxim that
the truth is the first casualty of war. It is public knowledge that, at
the time, the US had approximately 2,422 nuclear weapons with
a maximum fleet capacity of 2,032 bombers. That said, many
flight missions around the world would be for training and/or
testing and probing Soviet defence systems and would not necessarily have lethal capability.
Military nuclear incidents are categorized and coded into various classes depending on the seriousness of the situation. The Big
Sandy Lake incident was identified as a possible broken arrow, an
accidental event that involves nuclear weapons, warheads or components, but does not create the risk of nuclear war. The incident
was also identified as a probable dull sword, a minor incident
involving nuclear weapons, components or systems, which could
impair their deployment.
Ultimately, we have to leave it to our readers to pass their own
speculation and judgement on the likelihood of a nuclear asset
being on board the downed bomber. Nonetheless, we acknowledge the bravery and dedication of the crews who flew the B-47
Stratojet during the Cold War. One mistake, and nuclear war
could have been upon us.
The explosion and crash of a B-47 bomber over Big Sandy
Lake, Saskatchewan, was an eye-opener, especially to the local
geographic area. It was an incident that clearly illustrated just how
serious the Cold War really was.
Author’s Note: A sincere thank you to: Oren Robison, Editor of the Nipawin Bridge Magazine for allowing me to use edited versions of his
previous work on a similar article; Doug Fletcher, for sharing family records and personal accounts of his father; and to Les Oystryk for his
generous research support.
37
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Poetry
Corner
The Wind
Dedication
The world is a spiritual entity. Poplar leaves, gold as they are, cannot
be changed into coin. They exist in their fragile moment, disappear
and then reappear, as indestructible as the soul.
What joy to come upon an abstract painting of gold, rust, white
and green lichen on grey rock on one of my meanderings.
Nature, in both her beauty and cruelty, presents me with an
opportunity to embrace life as it really is – a sensate journey into
the spiritual world that trusts the outcome of its own changes.
It seems a larger harmony that humankind can achieve – an eternal
song of colour and movement, all happening without conscious
force, all happening with unconscious grace and power.
I allow myself, without trying, to be part of it. It sings through me.
It is in the clouds, rain and water, visible and invisible both. It is
real life. It is the gift of love to me in my real self.
I return that love to its real self in my writing.
By Sheila Marchant
The wind is softly rustling, leaves
whispering as it moves through trees
rocking the nests of baby birds,
creating a song that needs no words.
Sighing gently, it is the breeze
that quietly sifts through all it sees.
Rolling Silence by Kayla Bates
By Patricia Vickery
It’s the very same wind that can change its pace
when it decides to take up the race,
howling in fury across the lands
sweeping before it all that stands
to show us quite a different face
the one that has neither love nor grace.
39
Back
l
o
o
h
c
S
o
t
101
By Shannon Smadella
Start the school year off right with advice
from local experts
A new school year is a fresh start for both kids and parents. Although an
exciting time, it can also be quite overwhelming for children—and for
parents, too. From packing the right lunches to helping kids cope with
back-to-school jitters, we’ve got some great tips from local professionals
to help you make the back-to-school transition an easy one.
Be a supportive parent in times of change
charles Gregoire
Charles Gregoire is a child and adolescent
mental health clinician in The Pas, as well as the
chairman of the community’s Suicide Prevention
and Awareness Committee.
The International Association of Health Care
Professionals has recognized Gregoire as a worldwide leader in healthcare, and the top child and
adolescent mental health clinician in Manitoba.
Here, Gregoire offers valuable strategies to help
children and adolescents deal with the emotional
stresses that come along with going back to school.
Talk and listen to your children
about going (back) to school
Be sure to check up on your child’s feelings
and outlook on starting or returning to school.
Tell him or her that feeling apprehensive is a normal emotion: it demonstrates that their body is
warning them to be prepared for an unknown
situation.
Your child has likely experienced apprehension, worry, and possibly some anxiety in their
past. This is just another experience to learn from,
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Cottage North readers
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40
Éditique docket 4787
and become better prepared for many
similar situations they will endure in
their lifetime. [Help relieve that apprehension by] practicing the route to
school and reviewing school material
from last year. If possible, walk through
their school and classroom with them
and check out their locker or cubbie.
It’s also a good idea to create a personal safety plan with your child that
corresponds with the school’s plan in
case of emergencies (where to go and
who to call); this can give you and your
child more comfort while they are away
from home.
I find that
every child
feels
appreciated
when hearing
these three
statements:
I love you;
I’m proud of
you; I want
you to be
happy.
Help your child to process
any fears or concerns
Pay close attention to your children’s
sleep patterns and their appetite. Any
changes may be a sign of stress. Also
note if they are experiencing stomach
pains, headaches, anxiety, or poor concentration. Share some of your own
feelings and emotions you experienced
when you started school or even a new
job, and allow them to express theirs.
Asking your children about their fears
about returning to school will help
lighten their load. Discuss what they
enjoyed about school last year; also be
prepared to discuss what can go wrong,
and note that no matter what, you’ll be
there to support them and help them.
Let them know that change is normal
and while it can be difficult, it can be
very exciting when you’re prepared.
If children avoid their fears, they may
be more fearful the next time, but if they
face their fears and try to overcome them,
they will likely become easier to face each
Charles Gregoire
showing your children that school is important to you. Recall some of your positive
experiences in school, and the funny ones
too. Encourage your children to have open
discussions with you, and show an interest
in school events and share your anticipation
of your child’s new experiences.
time. This helps build a child’s selfesteem and, in turn, empowers them to be
successful in their future endeavours.
Be a positive influence
Show interest when discussing school. If
you are feeling anxious, or controlling too
many of the child’s decisions, your attempts
Get involved and ask for help
to motivate them will likely cause them to
resist you, or to simply agree with you just to
Becoming aware of the school community
calm you down so they don’t have to feel will help you understand your child’s environfurther tension. This can turn into a power ments and create opportunities for dialogue
struggle between you and your child, and with your child. It’s also a great way to meet
communication becomes hindered on new people and gain support for both of you.
both sides.
Be sure to learn about the available resources
It’s best to inspire your children instead at the school and in the community.
C
of controlling them. A controlling parent LEAR TIfHEat
any time you notice that you or your
LOT
SAL
E!
blocks communication, while an inspirachild
are
becoming
stressed and overwhelmed
the R
e
B
m
tional parent encourages communication
with
the
pressures
of the changes involved,
laze t
i
n
d
hreat
er
ens C
haspeaking
and builds trust and respect for the relationto
a
mental
health specialist can →
nnin
g hom
W
eTRsOUT
ship. You can be a positive influence by
B
Pho
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NORTHLA
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Putti
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cleat
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– Page
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centre Pas or anot herd
the toug Galbraith. “It’s
as appr
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and his
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and a
s aborigina
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pg. 3
41
Stay healthy during the school year
Chiropractic on Main
49 Main Street
Flin Flon, MB
204-687-4092
Fax: 204-687-3479
chiropracticonmain@hotmail.ca
Dr. Dominic McKenna
B.A., D.C.
Custom Orthotics
Orthopedic pillows
Walk to school
if possible
Use your local gym to
your advantage
It’s an easy way to get
that extra exercise in!
Taking time away from
the school atmosphere can
help you clear your mind
when you are stressed out
and need a break.
Pack healthy snacks
Morgan bryson
Morgan Bryson is a
certified personal trainer
at Sal’s Fitness in Flin
Flon. Here, Bryson shares
some information for
students on staying healthy
through the back-to-school
transition.
Or have them available
throughout the day, especially at home while you are
doing homework or studying. It’s easy to grab junk
food while you are home,
but if you have healthy
snacks ready to go, you’ll be
more likely to choose that
option.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has the following recommendations for a healthy start to the
school year:
where your child can concentrate, and allow enough
time for homework. Help your child when needed,
but do not do the homework for them.
Backpacks: Choose a pack with wide, padded
shoulder straps and a padded back. Pack heavy
items in the centre, and be sure the
bag does not exceed 10 to 20 per
cent of your child’s body weight.
Teach your child to always use
both shoulder straps, to prevent straining muscles.
Bullying: Talk to your child about bullies, and how
bullying is serious. Encourage them to report bullies
to trusted adults, and teach them not to cheer or
watch kids bully others.
Charles Gregoire from page 41
help with managing stress. Staff at your
local nursing station, primary health care
centre, hospital, or family doctor’s office
will help you access support from a mental
health professional.
Provide unconditional love and
support for your child
Celebrate your child’s accomplishments. Trying is an accomplishment in
itself, and every attempt a child makes is an
opportunity to boost their happiness and
help them feel proud of themselves.
Encourage each child to develop their
abilities and, within reason, make the
Friends with the same
goals and interests as you
will help you stay focused
with your active and
healthy lifestyle. Plus it
makes it that much more
fun when you have someone by your side!
The building blocks of a healthy student
Studying: Establish
a permanent space
42
Get motivated, and
stay motivated!
Lunch & Snacks: Encourage your child’s school to
stock healthy choices, including fresh fruit and vegetables, low-fat dairy and 100 per cent fruit juice.
Review the cafeteria menu to ensure proper nutrition
and that your child will eat what is served. If you pack
a lunch for your child, restrict sugary soft drinks.
things they enjoy doing available for them.
Accept their limitations, and remember
that children require teaching, experience,
and practice.
We learn from making mistakes, and
various emotions arise from making these
mistakes. Children experience the same
range of feeling as adults, but they are not
yet experienced at how to manage and cope
with some of them. They require support
from the adults in their lives to supply
them with the love and guidance to have a
well-balanced self-esteem. I find that every
child feels appreciated when hearing these
three statements: I love you; I’m proud of
you; I want you to be happy.
Get into the swing of school with consistent routines
Set a daily routine
Erin McKay
Erin McKay is a grade
two teacher at Creighton
Community School. With
12 years of teaching under
her belt, and three children of her own, McKay
knows more than a few
things about starting the
school year off right.
When children know what
to expect each day, they are
more apt to behave and comply
with the schedule.
An important part of our
family’s schedule is to have a set
time for homework. Whether it
is right after school or after supper, set aside a half hour or so as
“homework” time. Even if your
child does not have any school
work assigned that day, they can
use this time to read, write, or
practice spelling words.
Organize the night before
School day mornings can be
hectic for any parent. Plan
meals, pack lunches, and choose
outfits the night before. This
will deter a morning meltdown
over what your little princess
wants to wear to school.
Don’t take on too much
Avoid overwhelming yourself
or your children. September can be
a stressful month. Volunteering,
sports, and extracurricular activities are important, but school is
more important.
Talk to your children
about their day
Sometimes it is difficult to
get your child to share. Ask
what they liked best about their
day. Choose questions that
require more than a one-word
response. Let them know what
you liked when you were in
school. Keep the lines of communication open.
Communicate with
your child’s teacher
Don’t wait for parent
conferences to connect.
Take advantage of
your local library
Beat summer learning loss
by reading as much as possible.
The Flin Flon Public Library,
a favourite destination for my
three monkeys, has an amazing
children’s corner.
Remember, returning to
school does not have to be a
bad thing. Learning is always
an adventure!
Thank you to the professionals
who kindly contributed their
expertise, and may everyone have
a happy and safe school year!
Handy tips for healthier lunches
Your child’s school lunches and snacks
are a major source of the essential vitamins
and minerals they need to learn and play at
school. Without enough energy from food,
they may feel tired and find it difficult to
concentrate in class. Try these tips for easy,
fun and healthy school lunches:
- Cut sandwiches into triangles or diamonds, use cookie-cutters to make different
shapes.
- Change up the bread. Try different
kinds of grains (rye, pumpernickel, flax) and
different types of bread (whole grain tortillas, bagels and pitas).
- Kids love to dip. Try cottage cheese,
hummus, yogurt, or guacamole.
- Switch up the veggies and fruit. Give
your kids something different to experience
with each bite. - Use an insulated lunch bag with a small
ice pack for foods that need to stay cool. A
frozen juice box or bottle of water can also
help keep foods cold. Put foods that need to
stay hot in a thermos. A thermos is also good
for smoothies and milk.
Healthy Snack:
Cheese & Fruit
Kebabs
1 package (8 oz.) cheese,
cut into 16 cubes
16 seedless red grapes
16 small fresh strawberries
4 kiwi, peeled, quartered
1 container (6 oz.)
strawberry yogurt
Arrange one cheese cube,
grape, strawberry and kiwi
chunk on each of 16 small
straws or wooden skewers.
Serve the skewers as dippers
with yogurt.
43
Opportunity Knocks
for Local Writers
The Pas gains a
writer-in-residence
~ Libby Stoker-Lavelle ~
It has been said that when we cease to learn, we cease to
grow. For artists who hope to develop their craft, learning
from a seasoned professional can be a powerful growth
opportunity. This fall, writers in The Pas and surrounding
communities will have the chance to work with Carter, a
novelist, poet, and the first writer-in-residence for The
Pas.
Lauren Wadelius, library administrator at The Pas
Regional Library, organized the writer-in-residence program, and secured funding through the Manitoba Arts
Council’s Artists in Community Residency Program.
Carter, who moved to The Pas from southern Ontario
in 2013, holds an MFA in creative writing from the
University of Guelph. She has published a poetry collection, Lichen Bright, a novel, Swarm, and numerous pieces
of creative non-fiction. Carter’s writing has also been
short-listed for several awards. In the run-up to CBC's
Canada Reads 2014, readers around the country selected
Swarm as one of the top 40 books that could change
Canada.
“As a critically-acclaimed professional writer, Lauren
has a wealth of experience,” says Wadelius. “Living in a
northern community, we do not often have access to people
of her knowledge and experience, and this is a great opportunity for residents to take advantage of the guidance she
can provide throughout the writing process.”
Carter also brings a teaching background to the writer-inresidence role: she taught business, academic, and creative
writing at both Georgian College and Lakehead University in
Ontario.
“I love teaching writing,” Carter notes on her website,
laurencarter.ca. “It is immensely gratifying to watch people
transition from discomfort with their own work to an understanding that writing (and the experience of writing) can be
shared and discussed beyond judgement.”
As writer-in-residence in The Pas, Carter will provide support to local writers of all levels and genres. Starting in
September, she will be available on a weekly basis for one-onone consultation sessions at the library. She will also lead two
44
This September, author and poet Lauren Carter will become The Pas’
first writer-in-residence.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
14-week workshops, one for adults and one for high school students, from September to December.
In these weekly workshops, Carter will provide insights on technique and issues of craft while also
exploring work by current Canadian writers.
Community or school groups can take advantage of the writer-in-residence program by arranging
for special workshops with Carter on topics such as journaling, memoir and fiction writing, or overcoming creative anxiety.
“I’m hoping to help build a writing community in the North,” Carter explains, “and support people
who want to explore writing but might not otherwise have the opportunity to work with a professional
writer. I’m really hoping to share my love of the craft. ”
What is perhaps most remarkable about these programs is that they are all free for participants,
thanks to the Manitoba Arts Council.
When asked about any words of wisdom for communities that would like to establish an artist-inresidence program, Wadelius says, “There are funding opportunities out there. It is important to have
your plans well thought-out, ensure that you consider all costs, and have the support of the
community.”
“Having contact with the writer [or artist] is very important
at the outset” she notes, “and it was fortunate for us to have a
Lauren Wadelius,
professional living in our community already.”
library
Wadelius’ experience shows that community leaders, instead
administrator
of bemoaning the cost of bringing professionals into remote
at The Pas
towns and cities, can create opportunities by seeking out those
Regional Library,
experts who are already living in their midst. By finding ways to
secured the
New Non Current and Demo funds to create
let a local professional share her knowledge and experience with
Lowest Prices of the Season! Including deals
these...
thelikewriter-inthe community, Wadelius has created an enormous opportunity
residence
for enrichment. And that is something to write home about.
2012 Arctic Cat 2012 425 i
program.
For more information about the writer-in-residence program or
00
Photo
by
The Pas Regional Library, visit www.thepasregionallibrary.com,
or email library@mymts.net.
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to 36 months. Financing provided through TD Auto Finance & is subject to credit approval: Not all applicants will qualify for credit. Minimum financing total of $5000. Financing promotions void where prohibited. 1-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY valid on 2014 Wildcat Trail models & includes 6 months limited factory warranty & 18-month extended service contract through Cornerstone. 2-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY
valid on 2014 Prowler & non-trail Wildcat models & includes 6-month limited factory warranty & 18-month extended service contract through Cornerstone. REBATES UP TO $1,750 (Wildcat models) & up to $1,200 (Prowler modles) valid on 2009-2013 models & varies by model purchased. Offer suject to change without notice. Excludes tax, freight & dealer setup. Always wear a seatbelt on ROVs; never carry
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56701. +Offer valid 7/1/14 - 9/5/14 at participating Canadian dealers to Canadian residents on new & unused 2009-2014 Arcic Cat ATV models excluding youth, rental, government & special services models. See dealer for details. 5.89% FINANCING FOR 60 MONTHS available on 2011-2014 models. 5.89% financing on 2010 models, amortized up to 48 months. 5.89% financing on 2009 models, amortized up
to 36 months. Financing provided through TD Auto Finance & is subject to credit approval; not all applicants will qualify for credit. Minimum financing total of $5000. Financing promotions void where prohibited. 2-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY valid on 2014 models & includes 6-month limited factory warranty & 18-month extended service contract through Cornerstone. REBATES UP TO $1,300 valid on 2009-2013
models & varies by model purchased. Offer subject to change without notice. Excludes tax, freight & dealer setup. Only ride an ATV that is right for your age. Supervise riders younger than 16. Arctic Cat recommends that all riders take a training course & read & understand the owner’s manual before operation. For safety or training information, see your dealer or cal the Canada Safety Council
at (613)739-1535.©2014 Arctic Cat Sales Inc., Thief River Falls, MN 56701.
45
Q&A
with
Jasyn Lucas
- Libby Stoker-Lavelle -
Painter Jasyn Lucas works on multiple canvases at once, up to 20
at a time.
Photo by Nikki Brightnose
The artist’s studio is a peaceful oasis created by his own hand.
Thompson-based painter Jasyn Lucas has been honing his craft
since elementary school, and his commitment has clearly paid off.
At the young age of 35, Lucas has established himself as a wellknown Canadian artist, with artwork exhibited in numerous galleries around the country. Lucas’ airbrushed paintings and murals
bring the dramatic beauty of the North to life, with vivid, colourful landscapes that suggest a mystical world lingering just beyond
this one.
CN: How did your interest in painting first develop?
JL: When I was 10, my mother would take me shopping at the
Thompson Plaza. There was a store there that sold original Earl
McKay Paintings, wildlife and landscape paintings. I absolutely
loved them and knew that when I was older, I wanted to paint just
like him. I would eventually follow the works of similar artists like
Jeff Monias and Robert Bateman. At 12, I took my first personal
lessons with Earl McKay.
CN: Many northerners are familiar with your paintings of
the Northern Lights. Which subjects are most compelling to
you?
JL: The Northern Lights came to me unexpectedly. When I
first started my career, I would have to take on many different
jobs—I still do. One of the jobs was airbrushing a snowmobile
helmet. I hung a black sheet on the wall behind my work area to
prevent a mess on the wall, and I would clean out my airbrush and
do test strips on the sheet. While using greens one day, my test area
resembled what to me looked like Northern Lights! I lined up
about 10 canvasses and have been paintings the Northern Lights
ever since. Most are expressive and some are more realistic. I enjoy
the physical act of creating a rhythm while applying the medium,
since I work on up to 20 canvases at the same time. It takes a
certain commitment and stamina that can be exhausting.
I enjoy other subjects as well that are more surreal, like fantasy
and sci-fi.
46
CN: How has your style evolved over time?
JL: When I first began painting, I was always trying to paint like other artists, copying
them and wishing I were like them. My parents would always say, “Paint from the heart…
paint like Jasyn Lucas.” It wouldn’t be until after college that I would start to fully understand what they meant. When I let go of the rules and started to paint with more of an
expressive application and approach, my art became stronger. I began to relax, I would
use colours I normally wouldn’t and turn things around on purpose. I’d take risks, and let
my intuition take over. The more I did that, the easier and more fun painting became.
When I combined my intuition with formal principles of design, I ended up with
successful compositions and pieces that would eventually and naturally sell.
CN: How has your background shaped you as a person, and as an artist?
JL: I am a proud member of the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation. I was born Jason
Bighetty and was adopted by Jack and Wendy Lucas, a British family. Jack and Wendy
had a daughter, Tami, and adopted another girl, Tina. Later on, they adopted two more
Aboriginal girls, Rosie and Sarah. It was cool growing up because I had two families, one
I had never met, and one that had kids from all over. My friends were both white and
Aboriginal.
In Thompson, there is racism, but the thing I choose to remember is all the great
people in the North from different backgrounds who genuinely love living together and
working together, and living the best way we can as a community and as human beings.
CN: Last summer you worked with a group of Flin Flon youth from the
Friendship Centre to create a mural on Bellevue Avenue. You have led community
projects with young people at home in Thompson as well. What drives you to work
with youth?
JL: Young people are so impressionable. They need leadership and guidance, and they
are intrigued by structure and confidence. They are great followers. In order to be a great
leader, you must first be a great follower. I learn a lot from them too, as we are each constantly learning. I like to encourage them to be brave, to face social anxieties and lead a
balanced lifestyle.
CN: What are some of the challenges you have overcome in your career?
JL: My biggest challenge is balance, and leading a healthy lifestyle. I faced a lot of
anxiety when I first started my career because I thought I had to be working constantly.
I abandoned my friends, family and exercise and became obsessive over work. Eventually,
I suffered major anxiety attacks for several months straight. I would later learn, through
a lot of reading, that it was anxiety, and not a physical sickness, that had me panicking. I
had to step back and rearrange my life and way of thinking. I still have to do this.
Lucas’ look at nature differently.
Photo by Jasyn Lucas
In 2013, Lucas worked with Flin Flon
youth to create a collaborative mural.
Photo courtesy of the NorVA Centre
The artist at work.
CN: What words of advice do you have for those who want to become professional artists, or want to turn a hobby into a career?
JL: Start with a strong resume, a biography and head shot, a portfolio, an artist statement, and get a business name and number, business insurance, and GST and PST
numbers. Do your taxes. Drink lots of water. Set certain times when you do business and
other times for your family and yourself. Ignore your phone sometimes—don’t let it run
your life.
CN: How can readers learn more about you and your artwork? JL: I am currently creating a new website to be launched later this fall. If you go
online, there are many different links that can help you explore my history and portfolio
[try woodlandprinters.ca/lucas.htm to start].
“When I let go of the rules…my art
became stronger,” Lucas recalls.
Photo by Jasyn Lucas
47
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Crystal Kolt Churchill B-47 Down

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