COTTAGE
May-June 2014
north
Scott Kurytnik takes home the judges' prize for Beautiful Bald Eagle
Photo Contest
Drilling for gold at Thompson’s King Miner Contest
WINNER Walleye: Secrets of the prince of the lake
Yoga tips for every body
Nature goes wild at NorVA Exhibit PEOPLE
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Contents
May-June 2014 • Volume 12, Issue 3 • People, Community, Culture & History
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Features 10/Eagle Eye Meet Scott Kurytnik, winner of the Capture the North Photo Contest Libby Stoker-Lavelle 14/Gliding for the First Time An act of kindness in Cranberry Portage Shannon Smadella 16/Both Sides Now A local author takes a personal look at consumer culture Lauren Carter 18/Gold is Where you Find it: La Ronge La Ronge is a community rich in entrepreneurial spirit & natural beauty Jim Parres 21/Yoga: From the Far East to the Great White North Regional yoga instructors share their advice, insights and recommended poses for improving balance, strength and wellness Shannon Smadella 27/Watercolour Gone Wild Lois Pedersen’s exhibit reveals an experimental watercolour technique Libby Stoker-Lavelle 29/Walleye: Prince of the Lake An inside look at one of our more popular freshwater residents Morley Naylor 35/Fit for a King A unique tradition, the King Miner Contest, brings Thompsonites together Penny Byer 40/Hopping Northward A Manitoba biologist is using technology to help find and conserve amphibian and reptile populations…and you can help Doug Collicutt
In Every Issue
4/Editor’s Note 5/Contributors 6/Calendar of Events: What’s coming up in May & June 7/In a Nutshell: Highlights from the North
39/Poetry Corner: Flin Flon celebrates National Poetry Month 44/A Good Taste: Fresh Tastes for Spring Entertaining 46/Q&A: Meet Shawna Ducharme, Snow Lake’s Champion Arm Wrestler – interviewed by Marc Jackson
Cover photo: Scott Kurytnik, winner of the Capture the North Photo Contest, at Little Red River Park near Prince Albert, SK. Photo by Alanna Kurytnik.
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Editor’s Note Ahhh, spring. It’s been a long time coming this year, giving us all the more reason to celebrate the freshness in the air, the mud squelching under our feet, and the knowledge that warmer weather is here to stay (at least for a little while). That’s why, this month, we’re all about the great outdoors. In Hopping Northward, biologist Doug Collicutt shares his unique crowd-sourcing approach to gathering data on the frogs, snakes and turtles that live in Manitoba (p.40). Author Lauren Carter takes a reflective look at urban vs. rural life in her essay, Both Sides Now (p. 16); and in our roundup of local news, we look at a unique gardening project in the Frontier School Division (p.7). Anglers, and those who just like to enjoy what the anglers catch, will find an interesting story in Prince of the Lake, an up-close-and-personal look at the well-loved walleye (p.29). We’re also thrilled to announce the winner of this year’s photo contest, who is quite an outdoorsman himself. Meet Scott Kurytnik and learn his shutterbug secrets on p.10. Finally, two acknowledgements are due in this issue: first, a big thank you to Randy Daneliuk, our outgoing publisher, who was pivotal in creating and building Cottage North Magazine. We’d also like to extend a warm welcome to Valerie Durnin, our new publisher, who joined us in March. Valerie has already brought so many ideas and so much energy to our team. We are looking forward to bringing a better and brighter version of the magazine to you, our readers, in the coming months. Enjoy the sunshine! Corrections: In our March/April issue, the last line of Jim Parres’ story was cut off on page 23. The final sentence should read as follows: “The project could well be taken over by a major company, perhaps Cameco. Stay tuned.”
Libby (Elizabeth) Stoker-Lavelle Cottage North Magazine is published six times a year by The Flin Flon Reminder and is distributed free of charge to businesses and services throughout northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Publisher: Valerie Durnin Editor: Libby Stoker-Lavelle Production manager & layout editor: John Bettger Advertising coordinator & graphic designer: Krista Lemcke Sales & marketing advisor: Karen MacKinnon Office administrator & copy editor: Julian Kolt Receptionist: Rose Daneliuk Subscribe to Cottage North Support your local magazine & get Cottage North delivered to your door six times a year! Makes a great gift. One year subscription (6 issues): $36.00 GST incl. We welcome submissions of photos, art and articles at all times. Please contact us if you have something to share! Cottage North Magazine 14 North Avenue, Flin Flon, Manitoba, R8A 0T2 phone: 204-687-4303 fax: 204-687-4473 www.cottagenorthmagazine.ca email: cottagenorth@thereminder.ca To Advertise: Contact Krista Lemcke, sales@thereminder.ca
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Cottage North Magazine Vol 12, Issue 1. Printed in Canada, 2014. All rights reserved. Reproduction of photos, illustrations, or text in any form without written permission from the publisher is prohibited.
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Cottage North Contributors Shirley Barbeau Shirley Barbeau is a long-time resident of The Pas, and former resident of Cranberry Portage. A recent graduate from UCN, Shirley works for both The Pas Arts Council and The Pas & 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. Penny Byer Penny Byer moved to Thompson in the late 70s to open up the CBC North Country studio. She moved into print as editor of employee publications with a mining company and has freelanced for various organizations and publications. She also teaches courses on communications and leadership. Lauren Carter Lauren Carter grew up in a small, northeastern Ontario town in the Canadian Shield. She now lives in The Pas, and she and her husband drive to Flin Flon when homesick for granite outcroppings. Her first novel, Swarm, was included in the 2014 CBC Canada Reads list of 40 novels that could change Canada. Doug Collicutt Doug Collicutt has been an independent biologist and environmental consultant in Manitoba for 30 years. He is a recognized authority in the fields of herpetology, prairie flora and fauna and several other disciplines. Through his website, NatureNorth.com, in operation since 1997, he works to promote awareness and conservation of Manitoba’s biodiversity. Marc Jackson 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 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.
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Morley G. Naylor 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 Jim Parres is a prospector/geologist who was born in Timmins, Ontario, but raised in Flin Flon, Manitoba. He has co-authored two Manitoba mining books, “The Nor Acme Gold Mine Story” and “Headframes, Happiness and Heartaches” along with Marc Jackson. Jim also writes a bi-monthly column in the Snow Lake paper. Shannon Smadella As a charitable business professional, humanitarian and former Miss Canada, Shannon has traveled the world aiding in various causes. From TSN Sports Host to Freelance Journalist, this young entrepreneur stays true to what she loves—fitness. Shannon will be running her first marathon in August in support of Team Diabetes and teaches yoga at Sal’s Fitness. www.shannonsmadellafit.com Pat Vickery 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. Landice Yestrau Landice Yestrau is a Winnipeg native who recently moved to Bakers Narrows. Landice has enjoyed reading and writing poetry from an early age and her style has evolved over time; she currently composes free verse poems exploring introspective themes. Landice is also a NorVA artist, a scientist, and a lover of nature and people.
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May-June
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, Creighton, Denare Beach
May 3-4: Writing Workshop with Lauren Carter, NorVA Centre May 9: Live: CC Trubiak & the Tiny Army Band: Concert at Johnny’s Social Club, 7pm May 7: Willow Wreath Class, Creighton Recreation May 10: Clean Sweep Garage Sale, Creighton Sportex 9-12 May 17-18: Mixed Media Painting Workshop, the NorVA Centre June 23 – July 5: Walking with our Sisters Exhibit, The Elks Hall June 26-29: Flin Flon Trout Festival On May 9th, musician CC Trubiak will be performing with Erick Bergman, Paul Bergman, Brent and Susan Lethbridge, Mark Kolt and other special guests at Johnny’s Social Club in Flin Flon. Learn more: cctrubiak.com
Thompson Photo by sandy Chase
May 13-17: Northern Juried Art Show May 31: Tyler Shaw in Concert, TRCC June 19-22: Nickel Days Weekend Festival East Coast Band The Trews will be headlining this year’s Nickel Days Festival in Thompson. Other highlights include a parade, a softball tournament, and the King Miner Contest (see p. 35 for the story). Find the full schedule at nickeldays.ca.
The Pas
April 4 - June 1: Community Builders Exhibit, Sam Waller Museum May 2: What Happens after Once Upon a Time? Presented by the Scott Bateman Drama group May 25: MS Walk. Register at the Wescana Inn or mswalks.ca May 29-31: The Pirates of Penzance, a Theatre 53 Production
Photo Courtesy of walKinG with our sisters and dolly assinewe
This vamp is one of 1700 pairs that will be exhibited in Flin Flon from June 23-July 5 and in The Pas from August 11-18, to bring awareness to the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Learn more: walkingwithoursisters.ca or follow @WWOSFlinFlon on Twitter
Prince Albert
May 7-10: The Wizard of Oz presented by St Mary Upstage Productions, E.A. Rawlinson Centre May 21: Lighthouse Concert, E.A. Rawlinson Centre May 29: All Mighty Voice Concert, E.A. Rawlinson Centre June 14: Kin 50th Gala Featuring Comedian Brent Butt, E.A. Rawlinson Centre Follow the yellow brick road to the E.A. Rawlinson Centre, where St. Mary High School will be presenting the Wizard of Oz from May 7-10
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In a Nutshell: A miscellany of regional news Advocating for the arts: Crystal Kolt presents at the Canadian Arts Summit With a flourishing community choir, a lively art studio and gallery, and numerous active cultural organizations, Flin Flon’s arts scene has a lot to brag about. As Director of the Flin Flon Community Choir, and Cultural Coordinator for the city’s arts council, Crystal Kolt has worked tirelessly to foster an environment where local art and culture can flourish. She has also focused on bringing artists of all stripes into the community in order to share their work and their knowledge with residents. In March, Kolt shared her experiCrystal Kolt ences with the Canadian Arts Summit in Banff, an annual event in which representatives for the top arts organizations in Canada discuss national issues regarding arts and culture. At the summit, Kolt enjoyed the opportunity to build relationships and share knowledge with representatives from other communities and organizations. “It was an opportunity to connect in a real way with leaders in the arts,” she recalled. Fifty of the largest arts organizations in the country were invited to participate in the event, and seven individuals from across the country, including Kolt, were invited to present a “Pecha Kucha” to this audience. A Pecha Kucha is a unique
Photo by Julian Kolt
- Libby Stoker-Lavelle -
presentation form where an individual shares twenty slides, of twenty seconds each, focused on one topic. Kolt’s presentation, “Why Not Canada?” shared highlights of Flin Flon’s history and explored how communities, large and small, can promote creativity and growth in the arts. “There is so much talent in Northern Canada that has to be realized, promoted and supported,” says Kolt, “and the fact that I was invited to the summit, and encouraged to speak, shows that [the arts community in] Canada is really considering people in remote communities, expanding the outlook, and recognizing that knowledge and talent is everywhere, not just in urban centres.” So what’s next for the arts in Flin Flon? Kolt’s key goals are to “support northern art and artists in a real way, and foster quality work in the arts.” To get there, Kolt hopes to build infrastructure for the arts in the north, and continue to develop strong relationships with arts organizations and communities. “So many more opportunities for continued development are possible,” said Kolt. Judging by her positive experiences at the Canadian Arts Summit, it looks like Kolt – and Flin Flon - are well on their way.
The final slide of Kolt’s presentation showed the community choir’s 2013 performance in NYC
Kupesewin: A unique loppet in Lac La Ronge - Valerie G. Barnes-Connell -
Despite the frigid temperatures, Bryne Kowalchuk travelled the 934 kms from his home in northern Alberta to participate in the 2014 Don Allen Saskaloppet overnight experience, the Kupesewin. The loppet, which is organized by the La Ronge Ski Club, is a multi-day ski race across the rugged northern landscape of Lac La Ronge Provincial Park. Kowalchuk arrived in La Ronge two days before the start of the event only to learn it had been postponed for one week. Undeterred, Kowalchuk stayed for the extra ten days to ensure he participated in the event. In terms of his reasons for participating, it’s all about “the people, the camaraderie, and the uniqueness of the event” Kowalchuk said. Skiers participating in the loppet choose from one of two categories, the Sasquatch or the Kupesewin; each is 84 km. For the Sasquatch, the skier carries all the food and equipment needed to
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Campfire sharing is a special time during the Kupesewin. complete the event. In 2014 the Kupesewin Lite, a 50 km ski, was added to the event. In addition to the skiing itself, the campfire sharing is a special part of the Kupesawin experience, with volunteers and skiers sharing tea, fresh fried bannock and stories by the fire. Learn more about this unique event at skilaronge.ca Photo by Valerie G. Barnes-Connell, La Ronge Northerner
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Former Saskatchewan premier to lead service in Snow Lake
Community crafting gains popularity - Shirley Barbeau -
Photo by Shirley Barbeau
Photo courtesy of St Andrew’s College
- Marc Jackson -
The former NDP premier of Saskatchewan, Lorne Calvert, will conduct a service (followed by an open lunch) in the Snow Lake Anglican/ United Church on May 25th. Mr. Calvert, who is an ordained Minister and served as Premier of Saskatchewan for seven years, is now the Dean of St Andrew’s College in Saskatoon. Calvert was the Premier of Saskatchewan from 2001 to 2007, and Former Saskatchewan the leader of the Premier Lorne Calvert Saskatchewan New Democratic Party from 2001 to June 6, 2009, when he was succeeded by Dwain Lingenfelter. Last year, the Snow Lake Anglican-United Church answered an appeal for donations from St Andrew’s College with a small contribution. In doing so, they mentioned that if anyone from the college was ever in the area, they were welcome to stop in to the community for a tour and fellowship. It so happened that Calvert was planning to attend a United Church Conference in Swan River on May 24th, and volunteered to make the trip from there to Snow Lake to take up the invitation.
Not all folks in The Pas and area are outdoor enthusiasts—some crave the crafts instead, especially in the chilly weather. In response, The Pas Arts Council and other local businesses and organizations have fostered community crafting events to help local ‘crafters’ get together throughout the year. Once a month, the hall at the Anglican Church is packed with individuals who gather together at free Craft Days to quilt, crochet, make cards or paint ceramics. Lyet’s Café on Fischer Avenue has also gotten in on the action, holding two ‘stitch-ins’: lunchtime events where local knitters worked on their projects together. The three-day crafters’ retreats organized by the arts council have also been popular with local artists and crafters. This season, there were two retreats, with another planned for May 23, 24 and 25. Anyone interested in future crafting activities, and other creative pursuits in The Pas, can visit The Pas Arts Council’s website at www.sites. google.com/site/artscouncilthepas/
A “Stitch-in” at Lyet’s Café (L-R) Johanna McLauchlan, Brenda Podvinnikoff, Gwen Bartram, Christina Barbeau, Penny Helstrom, Rebecca Graham-Rheault
Creating dialogue through filmmaking: The Storytellers Film Festival - Libby Stoker-Lavelle -
Photos by Cam Bennett
Filmmaker Danis Goulet (top left) led discussions throughout the four-day Storytellers Festival, which featured over 30 films.
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The first Storytellers Film Festival drew large audiences in The Pas from March 20-23, with events intended to foster dialogue about the Aboriginal experience in Canada. The weekend festival included film shorts, feature films, thought-provoking presentations and discussion panels. One of the more prominent speakers of the festival was Cumberland House-born filmmaker Danis Goulet, who is the artistic director for Winnipeg’s imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival. In a panel discussion during the Friday night film showings, Goulet told the audience how she decided to start making films after feeling frustrated with the scarcity of films which told the stories of Canadian First Nations and Metis people with authenticity. As Goulet explained, “I looked around and asked myself, ‘Who are the filmmakers who are going to change this?’ And there weren’t very many. So it wasn’t that I had a calling to be a director or an artist, it was that I realized I needed to try this, because I didn’t know how else things were going to change.” On Saturday, a unique Elders’ Opinions session was held, in which a panel of community members were invited to discuss a series of short films. The short films varied widely in subject, tone, and length. Highlights included Kevin Lee Burton’s Nikamowin, which explored the Cree language, and Abe and Alfred, a thoughtful profile of one man’s personal and redemptive journey. The panel discussions added a layer of depth to the film showing, with panellists and audience members exploring the issues of identity, language, and historical truth that were raised in the films.
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Wapanohk Community School students marked the third annual Red Cross Day of Pink April 9 with a “Walk a Mile” in Thompson, down Princeton Drive to Waterloo Avenue and back to the school via Nelson Road and Station Road.
Red Cross Day of Pink marked throughout Manitoba - Ian Graham More than 365 schools and businesses in Manitoba hosted speakers, rallies, parades, walks, film festivals and other events on April 9 to mark the third annual Red Cross Day of Pink, which brings awareness to the impact of bullying and how people can create safe and respectful communities. “I commend the Canadian Red Cross for raising awareness of bullying and inspiring students to take a stand against it,” said James Allum, Manitoba’s minister of education and advanced learning. “Today on Day of Pink, the international day against bullying, discrimination, homophobia and transphobia in schools and communities, let’s all take a moment to reaffirm our commitment to work together to prevent bullying in any form. Together, we can ensure all students feel safe and respected in their schools.” The provincial government announced on Day of Pink that it is providing students with new tools to help prevent and deal with bullying. Resources are available at edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/ safe_schools/index.html; more information about the Day of Pink can be found at redcross.ca. This article was excerpted with permission from The Thompson Citizen
- Libby Stoker-Lavelle -
Summer strawberries are the main driver behind an educational project in a number of Frontier School Division schools. The Sweet Taste of Success gardening program, which is based out of Leaf Rapids, has been designed to teach students about social entrepreneurship and sustainability, while also helping them connect with the environment in a meaningful way. Here’s how it works: each student who wishes to participate signs an agreement committing to take care of ten strawberry A student celebrates the fruits plants, and a “strawberry train” of her labour. brings the seedlings to each school. Then, students start their hands-on learning: they prepare for the plants by learning about soil conditions and creating beds, then plant the seedlings, and care for the plants all summer. In the fall, the school can host a harvesting event so students can share their berries, and what they’ve learned. Project coordinator Chuck Stensgard notes, “the strawberries are easy to grow in this climate, and they produce runners each year. So when a student starts he’ll have ten plants, and if he takes care of them, the plants will multiply each year, so in ten years he should have a full-fledged garden.” From there, the possibilities could grow to include small entrepreneurial initiatives such as selling seedlings, marketing the fruit, or creating and selling preserves. While the volunteer-run project is still in its early years—it is in its third season now—it is growing quickly: over 10,000 strawberry plants were delivered to the Frontier School Division last summer. The Sweet Taste of Success project is available to all Frontier schools, and this year they are experimenting with ten varieties of berries as well as raspberries, honey berries, apples, and other varieties of fruit. To learn more about this innovative project visit borealgardening. com. For teachers interested in school-to-garden projects, curriculum materials designed by Frontier School Division consultant Brian Etkin are available at ourgardening.ca. Photo submitted by Chuck Stensgard
Photo by Ian Graham, Thompson Citizen
Creating environmental stewards, one strawberry at a time
Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill MP Rob Clarke
Meadow Lake 114 Centre St. Suite C Box 1260 S9X 1Y9 Phone: 306-234-2334 Fax: 306-234-2339
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Watchi Bay Bed & Breakfast “Come stay close to nature” Anisa Eluik & Kelly Heape The Pas, MB (10 miles North of The Pas on Highway 10)
204.623.4548 anisa@mymts.net www.bedandbreakfast.mb.ca
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O
Eagle Eye
ver the past year, 159 photos have come in to Cottage North, sent in by photographers from communities right across northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and even a few from further afield as well. In this final segment, we reveal the final winner of the Capture the North Photo Contest, introduce the finalists and judges, and gather some expert advice for you to use for your own photo ops. Wondering what that trip to Churchill will be like for our contest winner? Stay tuned to upcoming issues of Cottage North for the full story and photos from Scott Kurytnik’s beluga whale-watching trip with Lazy Bear Lodge.
Scott Kurytnik takes top honours in the Capture the North Photo Contest: The Final
Meet Scott Kurytnik (if you can catch him)
Scott Kurytnik, the winning photographer for the Capture the North Contest, is a true outdoor enthusiast. “I am constantly inspired by nature,” he says, “I always want to take pictures, and would love to spend every day outside.” By day, Kurytnik is a chiropractor and acupuncture practitioner at Brokers Active Care Klinic in Prince Albert, and his interest in science clearly plays into his photography as well: Kurytnik names Charles Darwin as a source of inspiration. “With his attention to detail in the subjects he studied, he inspires me to get as much detail as possible in my photographs,” says Kurytnik. When he’s not behind a camera lens, Kurytnik enjoys cross-country skiing, paddleboarding, fishing, and hiking with his wife in the Prince Albert National Park. Oh, and in his free time, Kurytnik is training for a little race called an Ironman—a challenging long-distance race consisting of a 3.8 km swim, a 180 km bike race, and a full marathon. We have a sneaky suspicion that the only time Kurytnik stands still is when he is taking a photo!
Edition
The winning shot
Photo by Alanna Kurytnik
People's Choice Sharon Walker received the most votes in our People’s Choice Round online for her photo, Owl Face. Walker will receive some cozy gear from Lazy Bear Lodge. Congrats, Sharon!
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“My wife and I were staying at a beautiful bed and breakfast in Tofino, B.C. on the inlet. Each morning I would wake up early and walk along the shore to see if I could get some pictures and came upon some herons and more than one beautiful bald eagle on my mornings there. It was damp and rainy, as it frequently is on the island, when I took this picture. I used a Canon 40D with a Sigma 150-500mm lens; I was fortunate enough to get quite close to this eagle, but still had to use my full zoom and do some cropping. “ “When photographing wildlife I find that it is always an exciting panic to get the best shots while you have a glimpse into their life. I remember taking multiple quick shots with different settings, trying to ensure that I was able to capture this beautiful bird as I was able to see it.”
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Scoring the finalists With all the finalists’ photos displayScoring ing a high degree of technical quality, Criteria the judges’ decisions came down to the three criteria, outlined in the chart at right. Each judge scored each photoInitial Impact 27 26 23 21 21 graph independently, and though the scores were close, Kurytnik’s eagle won Composition 25 25.3 24 23 24.8 the judges over for a number of reasons. Emotional 27 26 24 24 22 connection All three judges agreed that this photo was compelling one, due to the TOTALS 79 77.3 71 68 67.8 high level of detail and interesting textures which draw the viewer into the image. that punk-rock hairdo,” said Clark. “Everyone in the North has had a close encounter with an eagle,” The use of light and shadow in the composition also create visual noted Karen Clark. “Whether it is a frightening encounter, a comical interest, as both Terry Whitmore and Bruce Reid noted. “The shadow one, or a spiritual experience…but we hardly ever get close enough to reveals the character of the subject in this photo” Reid noted, and see an eagle in this kind of detail. Here, the dark background serves Whitmore added, “The shadows around the eye make the eagle seem to bring out details: the hook of the beak, and its translucence, and menacing; they make it a more interesting shot.”
The Judges I was a Saskatchewan farm boy who came north in search of employment in 1957. I purchased a camera to record my stay, which was going to be brief—one or two years at the most. Now, I have been involved in photography for over 50 years and I have had the opportunity to work with film and paper known as the “wet process” and fortunately I have lived long enough to have joined the digital world. When I look at the images that are being produced by Bruce Reid the average person with a point and shoot camera, it is amazing. Today we have so much information and technology at our fingertips to help us create images far beyond what anyone would have thought of 50 years ago. I am very much a self taught individual, I took a correspondence course from the New York Institute of Photography in the early 60’s, and I was a member of Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC) for over 30 years. During this period of time, I attended seminars, print shows, and judged events. This I found invaluable, as I had the opportunity to meet great people and hone my skills as a photographer. [Being a judge in this photo contest] was a rewarding experience. Our memories are something that cannot be taken away from us; so developing great images to support them is a wonderful way to share with our fellow man. See Bruce’s latest work at https://sites.google.com/site/northof54 bygbreid/
Karen Clark I am a retired high school teacher, artist, and enthusiastic arts advocate with a studio at the NorVA centre here in Flin Flon. My mother, Joyce Smedegaard, was an artist, and I have been in and around visual arts all my life. When I went to university I was able to take art courses along with my undergrad degree. Since then I have always maintained a sketchbook and taken advantage of arts opportunities that have come my way. Presently I am working in oil/acrylic and batik. The judging experience was a great privilege and learning opportunity for me. Bill and Terry are very knowledgeable. We had some lively discussions around composition and we were all very open to each other. The photography we viewed was just outstanding. It was a real privilege. See Karen’s artwork at norvacentre.com
Terry Whitmore Terry Whitmore is an industrial mechanic at HudBay. Whitmore is passionate about wildlife photography, and has been a dedicated and supportive member of the Flin Flon/Creighton photography club for many years. His technical knowledge and experience added great depth to the judging process.
A big thank you goes out to our three talented judges, who shared so much of their time, knowledge and experience with the Capture the North Photo Contest; and to Lazy Bear Lodge, the generous sponsor for the contest. Learn more about their trips at lazybearlodge.com. @CottageNorth
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Our finalists and judges share their best tips for growing and improving as a photographer
Advice & Inspiration
“If your photographs aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.” I took a documentary photography course in university, and our professor repeated this almost every lesson. It’s not always relevant in landscape photography, but it is decent advice in almost any photographic situation.
One of my favourite things to do is to get in the car, pick an unfamiliar road and take a slow drive down it with my camera next to me. It is on these drives when I see the most amazing, beautiful scenes.
Scott Berdahl Geologist, Whitehorse, YT
Sian King Full-time Mom & Part-time Baker, Flin Flon, MB
Winning Photo: Winter Moon - January 2014
Winning Photo: Fall at Mills Stream - July 2013 Focus on your subject, and experiment with your pictures. Get outside as much as you can and bring your camera, because you never know what you may find.
My advice is to always see the triangles in the scene, and try to have the triangle leading toward your main subject.
Scott Kurytnik Chiropractor, Prince Albert, SK
Sharon Walker Retired Farmer, Brooksby, SK
Contest Winner
Winning Photo: Owl Face - September 2013
From the judges
Keep trying! If you don’t get the shot you were looking for, learn from it, but don’t give up. There is always beauty in nature waiting to be captured. Noel Lindsay Channing, MB Winning Photo: Dog Days of Autumn November 2013
The best advice I can give is to get a camera which you can afford, and learn how to use it. You will find yourself wanting to upgrade, and by then hopefully you will know your needs. There are many books and videos today which will help you develop the technique that will take you to a higher level. Life is like a camera: focus on what’s important, capture the good times, develop from the negatives. If things don’t work out, just take another shot. Bruce Reid Professional Photographer, Flin Flon, MB A camera club or photography club is a great place to receive new and varied information, foster camaraderie and learn from others’ inspirational experiences. Karen Clark, Artist, Retired Art Teacher, Flin Flon, MB
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Gliding for the First Time
W
- Shannon Smadella -
hile many northerners love the fresh powdery snow that covers our communities from October through May, winter presents a huge challenge for those who use wheelchairs to get around. Thanks to the response of his community, Marcel Kozak, a Cranberry Portage resident and employee at Frontier School Division, found this challenge was made a little bit easier this year. “I have been a paraplegic for 35 years,” explains Kozak. “When I moved to Cranberry Portage, Manitoba, I found out very quickly how difficult the winter weather was going to be for me.” That’s where a local act of kindness came in. Gordon Kosmenko recalls, “I was coming home after work and noticed Marcel on the street with his wheelchair, struggling to get through the eight inches of snow. I stopped and asked if he needed help and he said, ‘No, I’ll be okay.’ A couple of weeks later, he came to me to fix his wheelchair." Kosmenko is a mechanic by trade, and through a few repairs and a replacement of the axel, he was able to help Kozak out temporarily. However, the larger issue of Kozak’s mobility in the winter was still unresolved. The purchase of a new wheelchair would run around the $4000 mark. Unable to get any assistance from provincial support programs for a replacement chair of the same kind, Kosmenko turned to the internet for some answers. “I just wanted to help him,” he recalls. “I can’t imagine how hard it is to navigate life in a wheelchair, and I wanted to do something to make his trek through the snowy streets a little easier.”
Kozak’s Wheel Blades have transformed his quality of life in the winter
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Marcel Kozak (left) and volunteer firefighter Gordon Kosmenko Photos by Gordon Kosmenko
During his research, Kosmenko stumbled across a unique invention from Switzerland called Wheel Blades. Wheel Blades are small, high-end skis that attach easily to the front wheels of wheelchairs or strollers; they are engineered to improve mobility in winter and during snowy and icy conditions. The inventor, Patrick Mayer, is a quadriplegic himself. “It always made me very sad that wintertime limited my mobility so severely,” says Mayer, “and that I had to make plans on how I was travelling anywhere. I have always loved winter and snow. I was surprised to find out that there was not a single, reasonably priced mobility aid on the market, one which could be attached and removed using basic manual skills.” Kosmenko quickly realized that Mayer’s Wheel Blades, at a cost of $575, could be the us: cottagenorthmagazine.ca
perfect solution to help Kozak navigate the snowy Manitoba streets. Kosmenko spoke with his colleagues at the Cranberry Portage Volunteer Fire Department, and they gladly agreed to donate the Wheel Blades to Kozak. “I asked Marcel if he would try them out” recalls Kosmenko. “And he loves them. He said to me, they are so good he even glides with them—he said he’s never glided in a wheelchair. “ “Pushing my wheelchair in and through the snow now is so much easier, and navigating through loose ice-snow chunks is nearly effortless,” explains Kozak. “This winter, things changed for me.” Marcel Kozak would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Cranberry Portage Volunteer Fire Department. For more information on Wheel Blades visit www.wheelblades.ch or www. ottobock.ca
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From Both Sides Now: An Essay Author Lauren Carter reflects on how a year and a half in northern Manitoba has altered her outlook on consumer culture and ‘the good life’. - Lauren Carter -
L
ast June, my husband and I drove around a crowded parking lot in a torrential downpour looking for a place to put our car. We were trying to get into Best Buy, to return a couple of cell phones we’d purchased in Winnipeg a month earlier only to discover that they were the wrong kind and wouldn’t work in The Pas. Anyone who lives up here knows the kind of driving we’re talking about. Seven hours to Winnipeg to buy the darn phones (luckily we were going there anyway to bring my mother back to the airport) and seven hours home. When the guy at the Rogers desk in the electronics/furniture/appliance store here in town told us we couldn’t use them, I almost started to cry. We tried to get Best Buy to take them back through the mail and simply refund our credit card at a distance (you know, the way you shop online), but they wouldn’t do it. They were purchased in person, the employee on the phone told me, so we had to punch in our PIN and then sign a return slip. This meant, obviously, more driving. Jason, my husband, and I had been living up here for only six months when this happened. We arrived in the deep cold of January, so there was cabin fever to be dealt with, and I was also struggling with the remoteness and a feeling that I’d call, for lack of a less dramatic word, deprivation. We had moved from a city of 30,000 where we could get in our car and drive three minutes to a Future Shop when we got a hankering for a box set of some season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (in preNetflix days) and thought nothing of going to Winners, Walmart, or a couple of the nicer boutiques downtown to get the right clothes.
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Not to mention the possibility of a trip to Toronto, an hour and a half south of us. When we shopped for groceries, we went to three or four grocery stores for the best sales or to pick up speciality items. I still remember the routine: California garlic and bananas for 69 cents a pound at Country Produce, lemongrass (when I wanted to make Thai) and gluten-free pizza dough mix at Zehrs. When I had long manuscripts to print, I would send them over the internet to Staples and stock up on printer cartridges and postconsumer recycled paper when I went to collect them. Here in The Pas, I spent the first seven or eight weeks waiting for special-ordered ink cartridges to arrive and I buy regular paper, made from full-grown trees. With the days counting down to the time when the useless phones would irrevocably be ours, we decided to go to Saskatoon. A little bit closer than Winnipeg, we reasoned, and that was how we ended up in the parking lot, outside Best Buy, in a blinding downpour.
“I was struggling with the remoteness and a feeling that I’d call, for lack of a less dramatic word, deprivation.” It seemed an ordinary enough afternoon apart from the fact that everyone was shopping. I remember mentioning this to Jason, asking him if we’d forgotten about some sort of holiday. No, he said. It’s the city. When we finally found a parking spot we dodged people to race into the store. A crowd stood outside the doorway, waiting for the rain to ease. Several others were inside, browsing the aisles, watching the huge television sets, looking at the latest cell phones, opening and closing shiny stainless steel stoves.
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It took us less than five minutes to return the phones and then we left the store and left the city. We like Saskatoon – their art gallery and cute downtown – but Jason, not a fan of urban driving, was having none of it. We headed north towards Prince Albert and as the traffic dissipated, I felt my pressured blood begin to flow more easily. My head cleared. A couple months after our rainy trip to Saskatoon, deep into summertime, we decided to throw the canoe into the large, shallow lake behind our house. We paddled down a mucky channel full of muskrats and the occasional beaver and once we got out into open water, we started seeing pelicans. Edging close to the grassy islands, we peered through a curtain of reeds at a huge crowd of the large, white birds. We had found their nesting grounds. Floating, we tried to be silent and snapped photos. When the pelicans noticed us, they would run across the water to heave their heavy beaks and bodies into the air with the flapping of their huge white wings. It was breathtaking. Sometimes, I admit it, I still get a hankering to go to IKEA and spontaneously buy a furniture item or slap down the credit card for a video camera at Future Shop, but after more than a year here, that need in me has mostly subsided. In its place, I notice a new sense of peace and a connection to the landscape. It is a little bit like we live on an island, we tell our friends
and family back home in busy Ontario. When we want to see art or watch a movie on the big screen or attend a play, we’ll gladly put in the time to do the hours-long trip to the big city, but leaving here to hit Polo Park seems like a strange sort of recreation.
“Edging close to the grassy islands, we peered through a curtain of reeds at a huge crowd of the large, white birds.” Jason and I have never been big shoppers but certainly we’ve felt the pressure of our materialistic society. Every medium and large city seems to have that unavoidable strip of big box stores on its outskirts. Up here, we simply don’t see it or get entangled in shopping traffic and that has changed how we think. Life isn’t about doing a run out to Staples anymore and maybe stopping at Winners to see what’s new. Instead, it’s the river across the road from our house that flows high through the spring and ices over in winter. It’s the waterfall up north, near Thompson, where we put in last August to paddle east and camp out of sight of all other humans for a week. It’s a new sort of remote life, but deprivation? Not in that way; not at all.
Photos by Lauren Carter
Greetings to Cottage North readers
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Gold is Where You Find It: A Look at La Ronge
Jim Parres explores the town of La Ronge, one of the oldest settlements in Saskatchewan, and a community rich in entrepreneurial spirit, and natural beauty. - Jim Parres When the sun comes up most mornings over the Eastern shore of vast Lac LaRonge, and shines those brilliant golden rays across the region, it would only seem natural that some of those rays would be absorbed by the two billion year old rocks in the area. After all, those rocks are derived from a piece off the sun and two billion years is a very long time, at least to mankind. This may not be a widely accepted geological theory, and is probably based on a large amount of fantasy, but the gold got there somehow. Yes, native gold was discovered just outside of La Ronge years ago and several gold mines have operated in the area since. Copper, nickel and uranium were uncovered in Northern Saskatchewan as well. Recently, however the Golden Band Mine temporarily shut down—awaiting a better price for gold—laying off 150 LaRonge residents and contributing to the uncertainty in this historic northern town. La Ronge, Saskatchewan is a small but picturesque community situated on the west shore of beautiful Lac La Ronge in mid-central Northern Saskatchewan, about 235 kilometers by road from Prince Albert. The town has a long and colorful history, and LaRonge is one of the oldest settlements in the province. The general area was at one time inhabited mainly by tribes of the Cree Nation, and LaRonge still has a large population of people of Aboriginal and Metis origin. The lake that La Ronge nestles on encompasses 1414 square kilometers and is located in the rugged topography of the Pre-Cambrian Shield. Lac La Ronge is approximately 58 kilometers long and of similar width. The lake drains via the Rapid River into the mighty Churchill River system, one of the most amazing river systems in the world, and this large lake is studded with many islands, ideal camping spots for tourist-types and fishermen. Sport fishing has long been an attraction as abundant populations of northern pike and succulent walleye abound; the legendary fishing stories from this region have reached far beyond the borders of Saskatchewan.
to La Ronge. La Ronge, however, was a remote village for many years, accessible only by water or by air, until finally in 1948, the road was completed from Prince Albert. Even then it was a long, arduous trip to La Ronge from the south. In 1950, the settlement was incorporated as a village but the name “Lac La Ronge” was changed to just “La Ronge” eight years later to avoid obvious confusion. Industrial town designation in 1965 coincided with the opening of the Anglo-Rouyn Mine, as well as open pit mining of the nickel at Rottenstone Lake. In 1972, La Ronge became a “government town” as most of the mining had ceased. La Ronge then became a “multi-faceted” community which depended on various income sources such as entrepreneurship, government assistance, tourism, and mineral exploration. For years, La Ronge was also a “jumping off ” spot to far Northern Communities as well as to mines further north. Today, it is more of a “passing through” town as Provincial Hwy 102 leads to the Community of Southend on Reindeer Lake. You then take Hwy 905 to the Wollaston Lake area uranium mines.
Photo by Julian Kolt Scott Robertson runs the town’s famous Robertson’s Trading Post
History
Local Industry
The name La Ronge likely comes from the French verb “ronger” which translates to “to gnaw”, a reference to the huge beaver populations associated with the fur trade of the 18th Century. La Ronge has finally settled on the west shore of the big lake which had attracted the attention of nomadic tribes centuries ago, and then the European fur traders and missionaries in the 1770’s. I say “finally settled” because a snippet from Berry Richard’s book entitled “Gold and Other Stories” relates the many relocations of the original trading post established by Etienne Waden in 1779, at or near Waden Bay. Waden is reported to have been killed in a fight with Peter Pond, when Pond wintered on the lake around 1780-82, though details are sketchy. A Hudson Bay Post was situated 3 miles south of the present LaRonge site in 1898, after a post at the north end of the lake was abandoned in 1830. The present townsite had a Revillon Freres Post built in situ in 1904 and in 1914, the Hudson Bay Company moved their operation
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A prime example of entrepreneurship in La Ronge would be Robertson’s Trading [featured in the November 2012 issue of Cottage North, and available online at cottagenorthmagazine.ca]. Robertson’s Trading Post is run now by Scott Robertson, who succeeded his father, Alex, (Mr. Robertson Senior) who spent 22 years as a fur buyer and ran the store for 47 years. It takes long hours of work, and the risk of your own capital, to be successful. The Robertsons were both willing and successful. Their quotable quip is “We’re more like the Hudson Bay Company than the Hudson Bay Company”. I was always intrigued by the rare albino wolverine mount in a store showcase, evidently one of three albinos the Robertsons took in over a 30-year period of fur buying. North Central Helicopters (NCH) brought a lot of business to La Ronge, and created jobs. I used their services extensively back in the late 1990’s for my Mokoman (Knife) Lake copper property project.
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We had several of their helicopters in camp for months at a time. In fact, the last time I was in La Ronge, I flew in with an NCH pilot who had been a star hockey player with the Flin Flon Bombers, Tim Maderash. Helicopter Transport Service from Ontario has succeeded NCH today, and operates in the neighborhood of up to 15 machines from LaRonge. Dale Hoffman was a go-getter with his VSE-listed public exploration companies and operational arm called Devex Exploration. Devex was managed and operated by La Ronge resident, Darwin Parkinson, for 14 years. Hoffman pumped a lot of money through the La Ronge economy, until his untimely death in 2001. The Studer family and Eric Partridge were ardent boosters of the mineral potential around the area as well. Some family members still carry on in the business.
Several exploration contractors like Rod Spooner and Mike Lederhouse are contemplating retirement now, and will be missed from the local economy when they go. Currently LaRonge is in a state of flux, dependent on a handful of businesses and government assistance. There is an undercurrent of hopefulness in the community as perhaps Canadian Tire and Giant Tiger may open up retail outlets, which could help stem the flow of “out-shopping,� and help the town grow prosperous again. My father Lew, my Uncle Jim and I have all travelled through LaRonge on our way to more northern points in our exploration endeavours. I hope I can get back to La Ronge again, catch a few fish, view Otter Rapids, see my old buddy Napolean Sayese at the Brabant settlement, check out Stanley Mission and visit Nistowiak Falls at least one more time. Golden luck, LaRonge!
La Ronge from the air. Photo by Gill Gracie, Aurora Communications
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Yoga From the Far East to the Great White North “Change your posture and you change the way you breathe. Change your breathing and you change your nervous system. This is one of the great lessons of yoga: Everything is connected—your hipbone to your anklebone, you to your community, your community to the world. This interconnection is vital to understanding yoga.” — James Hewitt, The Complete Yoga Book Photo of yoga instructor Ryan Leier by Chelsea Klette
In recent years, yoga has been rapidly gaining popularity in northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan. In March, Thompson opened its first hot yoga studio, and yoga instructors and practitioners can be found in Flin Flon, The Pas, Prince Albert, and Snow Lake as well. In this issue, we look a little deeper at the practice of yoga. Is it a trendy form of exercise, or a spiritual practice? What can (and can’t) yoga do for you? Over the past month, I’ve had the chance to converse with students, instructors, gurus and associations on the subject of yoga. Here is what they’ve had to share.
the globe as a popular wellness activity and a spiritual practice. So what is this “yoga” anyway? The short answer is that the word yoga means union. The long answer is that yoga is difficult to describe in one answer, as it has many different branches and limbs. Developing a strong, healthy and flexible body is a key element of yoga, but to really understand why many people practice yoga, we need to look a little deeper. Most of us are accustomed to looking outside of ourselves for fulfillment, yet we find ourselves constantly striving toward that which always seems to lie just beyond our reach. Thus, our experiences truly show us that nothing external or material can genuinely fulfill that desire for “something more”. For many, that “something more” is found through the connection with the spirit, and one of the ways of connecting to the spirit is through the practice of yoga, by looking inward and finding stillness within ourselves. Hatha Yoga (the physical form of yoga) is the most popular and well-known form of yoga. Hatha encompasses physical postures (asana), breathing exercises (pranayama) and mediation, all performed to achieve better health. There are many styles within this path Iyengar, Integral, Astanga, Kripalu, and Jiva Mukti, to name a few.
The Evolution of Yoga
Who is yoga really for? Busting a few myths
oga has a long and well-debated history, but it is widely accepted that yoga began as a practice (or at least was first documented) about 5,000 years ago, in the Indus Valley Civilization, in modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. Yoga has been practised around the world in various forms since, and yoga traditions are found in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Gurus from India were pivotal in introducing yoga to the western world in the mid 19th century, but it is in the past 30 years that yoga has truly spread across
Ryan Leier, the founder of One Yoga Studios, teaches yoga around the world and created Vinyasa Yoga for Youth, an innovative nonprofit organization. In his words, "Yoga is for every body. Old, young, sick, healthy, strong or weak. Finding a way to practise even one pose a day will affect your life in a positive way. Know yoga, know peace." The plain and simple truth is this: anyone can practise yoga. You don’t need any special equipment, clothing, or lessons; all you need is the will to pursue a healthier and happier lifestyle.
- Shannon Smadella -
Y
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Busting those myths Myth #1: Yoga is really just for women. “Yoga was brought to the west from India in the early 19th century” explains Kylie Matechuk, “and was only practised by men. It's just been recently that women have started practising. All people, of all ages can practise yoga.” Myth #2: Only flexible and/or fit people can practice yoga. “You don’t have to be flexible or in shape to begin a yoga practice; you only have to be willing to show up to the mat and to breathe,” explain Rachelle Taylor & Monique Pantel. Taylor and Pantel are the founders of Prairie Yogi Magazine, an online publication. “Even if you have shown up only to reap the physical benefits, you’ll be amazed at what effects will begin to surface within you, off the mat: more flexibility, of course, ease of breath, reduced stress, and the ability to breathe, live and love more intently and mindfully.”
A sculpture of a Hindu yogi in Delhi, India
Myth #3: Yoga is just for adults Our world can place tremendous pressure, expectations and stress on children. Through playful yoga poses (asanas) and focused breathing techniques (pranayamas), kids gain poise, physical fitness and a new understanding of themselves. One of the greatest joys I’ve experienced in life as a yoga instructor and a mother is to watch kids laugh, play and move freely. Yoga classes aim to facilitate this joy and give kids the tools to take these techniques from the mat to their daily lives.
Yoga Instructors from the North
Kylie Matechuk, Thompson “Yoga means everything to me,” Matechuk says. “Doing yoga grounds me, and helps me slow down and enjoy what really matters in life. My goal is to show people that they have the ability to heal themselves and just provide the tools to get them there. For people in remote areas such as Thompson and the north, unless they've experienced yoga elsewhere, they just don't know what's out there that just might be that lifechanging outlet they need.” Kylie Matechuk has been practising yoga since the age of 13; this March, she opened the North’s first ever alternative wellness centre and hot yoga studio, Mo Tus Nua Wellness. She is a trained in hot yoga, power yoga, and kids and aqua yoga, and she is completing her certification as a Canadian Yoga Alliance Holistic nutritionist. Find Matechuk at Mo Tus Nua Wellness in Thompson, Facebook.com/ motusnuawellness
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Alex Etienne, Flin Flon/Creighton “I feel that yoga provides numerous benefits to those in our community,” says Etienne. “To me, yoga means finding a balance, one’s own calmness, which takes practice, and this is why I see yoga as a journey. Yoga is a way to connect and learn about ourselves. Yoga does not change us, it is a way to find ourselves.” Alex Etienne began her love affair with yoga in 2010 and started teaching yoga classes in Flin Flon last year. She is pursuing her 200 Hour RYT and RPYT certifications (Registered Yoga Teacher; Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher). Etienne currently teaches Prenatal and Beginner Vinyasa, as well as Mommy & Me yoga classes at Zenergee Wellness Studio in Creighton. www. zenergeewellness.com/yoga-classes.html
Linda Towes, Thompson “Yoga can be about undoing all the "doing" and "trying" that many of us have done all our life,” explains Towes. “For me, the word yoga has swirls of integrity, alignment, and wholeness together with the union of the body, the mind and the heart (spirit). Yoga softens the edges, seeps into the cracks and reminds me of how love is what I really want.” On a community level, Towes believes that yoga can make a difference as well: “Change begins with our thoughts and minds and actions,” she says. “One by one, awareness, love, and acceptance of ourselves can permeate to those around us - our families, our friends, our workplace, our community, our North Country and our world!” Linda Towes has been practising and teaching yoga for over 13 years. She is also a member of the Natural Health Practitioners of Canada for massage therapy. Linda teaches at the St. James Anglican Church Hall, Northern Spirit Manor, and prenatal yoga with the NRHA as part of their prenatal program in Thompson.
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Kylie Matechuk reflects on how yoga has served her family: “With two young daughters in a tough society, my goals are to teach them, not only proper body image, but also about how to live a long, healthy and enjoyable lifestyle. That, to me, is teaching them the benefits of yoga, the yogic training of the mind, body and breath, and of course pairing it with eating real food.” Why practise yoga? While the specific benefits of yoga vary depending on both the type of yoga practised, and the individual, yoga practitioners from diverse backgrounds keep coming back to yoga for a number of reasons. Here are a few of the most popular responses to the question, “Why do you practise yoga?” Improved flexibility: As Matechuk explains, “If a person is inflexible, that is the perfect reason to come to yoga. The muscles need to be lengthened in order to grow. This applies to athletes, body builders, adolescents, seniors, and everyone in between.” Reduced aches and pains: According to several studies, asana, meditation, or a combination of the two, reduced pain in people with arthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other chronic conditions. Joint health: Each time you practise yoga, you take your joints through their full range of motion. This can help prevent degenerative arthritis or mitigate disability by "squeezing and soaking" areas of cartilage that normally aren't used (meaning fluids are squeezed out and new nutrients can be absorbed). Increased circulation: Yoga gets your blood flowing. More specifically, the relaxation exercises you learn in yoga can help your circulation. Yoga also gets more oxygen to your cells, which function better as a result. Research shows that migraine sufferers have fewer and less painful migraines after three months of yoga practice. Heart health: Studies have shown that yoga helps lower your resting heart rate, increases endurance, and can improve your maximum uptake of oxygen during exercise—all reflections of improved aerobic conditioning. Relief for sufferers of depression & anxiety: Regular yoga practice lowers cortisol levels, which helps fight depression and anxiety. Often, yoga instruction also provides students with useful tools for managing stressful situations. As Matechuk observes: “we learn to be present, breathe through fears and life challenges, and focus on the good, breathing out the bad.” Increased coordination & balance: Alex Etienne explains, “Yoga can encourage a heightened sense of well-being by helping us to focus on the present and become aware of mind body health.” Studies have found that regular yoga practice improves coordination, reaction time, memory, even IQ scores, and increases proprioception (the ability to feel what your body is doing and where it is in space). Boosts Immunity: A recent Norwegian study found that yoga practice results in changes in gene expression that boost immunity at a cellular level. “I love talking about how yoga affects our physical body during a class” explains Matechuk. “All of the classes I teach are heavily focused on detoxing, full body system flushes, glandular compressions, balancing blood chemistry and building lung elasticity through proper breathing (pranayama).” Sexual desire and emotional connection: Studies have found that 12 weeks of yoga can improve sexual desire, arousal, performance, confidence, orgasm and satisfaction for both men and women. As Linda Towes notes, “Students have experienced more openness in their bodies, more awareness about their reactions/responses to others, and an increased sense of connection. With more ease in our body, we have more energy to be with others.” Better sleep: Researchers from Harvard found that eight weeks of daily yoga significantly improved sleep quality for people with insomnia.
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At-Home Yoga Poses Tadasana – Mountain Pose 1. Stand with feet together and arms at sides. Press weight evenly across balls and arches of feet, press big toes together. Lift toes and spread them apart. Then, place them back down on the mat, one at a time. 2. Tuck in tailbone slightly, but don’t round lower back. Keep hips even with the centre line of your body. Bring pelvis to its neutral position. Draw your belly in slightly. 3. As you inhale, elongate through your torso. Exhale and release your shoulder blades away from your head, toward the back of your waist. Broaden across your collarbones, keeping your shoulders in line with the sides of your body. Press your shoulder blades toward the back ribs, but don’t squeeze them together. Keep your arms straight, fingers extended, and triceps firm. Allow your inner arms to rotate slightly outward. Elongate your neck. Your ears, shoulders, hips, and ankles should all be in one line. Tree Pose – Vrksasana 1. Stand in Tadasana. Shift weight slightly onto the left foot, keeping the inner foot firm to the floor, and bend right knee. Reach down with right hand and clasp right ankle. 2. Draw right foot up and place the sole against the inner left thigh; if possible, press the right heel into the inner left groin, toes pointing toward the floor. 3. Press your hands together at the center of your chest. Gaze softly at a fixed point in front of you on the floor about four or five feet away. 4. Stay for 30-60 seconds. Step back to Tadasana with an exhalation and repeat for the same length of time with the legs reversed. Benefits: Strengthens thighs, calves, ankles, and spine, stretches the groins and inner thighs, chest and shoulders, improves sense of balance, relieves sciatica and reduces flat feet. Beginner’s Tip: If your raised foot tends to slide down the inner standing thigh, put a folded sticky mat between the raised-foot sole and the standing inner thigh. About the Author: Shannon Smadella has taught yoga for more than six years in various Canadian, US, and South American cities, and is an E-RYT (registered yoga instructors with over 1000 hours of teaching experience.) In addition, she is a certified sports nutritionist, an ISSA certified fitness trainer and will be completing her Reiki Level 2 certification in May. Shannon is the lead instructor and owner of Flin Flon Yoga www.ffyoga.ca.
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Warrior II Pose – Virabhadrasana II 1. Stand in Tadasana. Step feet three and a half to four feet apart. Raise arms parallel to the floor and reach them actively out to the sides, shoulder blades wide, palms down. Turn right foot slightly to the right and left foot out to the left 90 degrees. Align the left heel with the right heel. Firm your thighs and turn left thigh outward so that the center of the left kneecap is in line with the centre of the left ankle. 2. Bend left knee over the left ankle, so that the shin is perpendicular to the floor. If possible, bring the left thigh parallel to the floor. Anchor this movement of the left knee by strengthening the right leg and pressing the outer right heel firmly to the floor. 3. Stay for 30 to 60 seconds. Inhale to come up. Reverse the feet and repeat for the same length of time to the left. Benefits: strengthens and stretches the legs and ankles, stretches the groin, chest and lungs, shoulders, stimulates abdominal organs, relieves backaches, especially through second trimester of pregnancy. King Dancer Pose – Natarajasana 1. From tadasana, shift your weight onto the right leg. 2. Bend the left knee and grasp the inside of the left foot with the left hand. 3. Start to bring the left foot and the right arm up toward the ceiling as you bring your torso forward. 4. Hold for five to 10 breaths. Repeat on the other side. Benefits: stretches the shoulders and chest, thighs, groins, and abdomen, strengthens the legs and ankles, improves balance Beginner’s Tip: Many beginners, when lifting the leg, tend to cramp in the back of the thigh. Be sure to keep the ankle of the raised foot flexed; that is, draw the top of the foot toward the shin. Do not practice this pose if you have a recent or chronic ankle or low back injury. Also avoid this pose if you are currently experiencing low blood pressure, dizziness, migraines, or insomnia.
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Tips for practising yoga at home • Always consult a physician before starting a new exercise program. • Ideally, practise on an empty stomach: try not to eat two to three hours before doing yoga •
Never strain or struggle to get into a pose. Move into, and out of, the postures gently, smoothly, and with awareness. Do not push through tightness; it’s much more effective–and much safer–to relax it away with awareness and with the breath, thus facilitating a deeper opening.
• Remember that your neck is part of your spine. Keep it in line with the rest of the spine, to avoid compressing the cervical vertebrae or discs. • Breathing should be controlled. • Rest at any time in corpse pose or child’s pose.
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What's The Difference Between A Spousal RRSP And My Spouse's TFSA? - Lenna Gowenlock, Edward Jones -
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hile an RRSP and TFSA both allow you to save money and reduce taxes now or in the future, each has unique features to consider when contributing and withdrawing money. The chief advantage driving contributions to a spousal registered Retirement Savings Plan (Spousal RRSP) is to minimize www.edwardjones.com taxes owing down the road when you each retire by splitting
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potential taxable income when you withdrawal the money. Ideally, the smaller amounts withdrawn from each spouse’s registered savings vehicles will result in lower taxes compared with one large withdrawal each year from a single account. It’s important to know that Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) recognizes common-law partners as spouses (including samesex partners). A spousal RRSP is one owned and held only by your spouse, not by you. CRA allows you to contribute to your spouse’s RRSP, but those contributions count towards your annual contribution limit. The contributing spouse (you, for example) then deducts the contribution from your taxable income. Your spouse is not able to use this tax deduction. It’s also worth noting that if you are beyond the age to contribute to your own RRSP, you can still contribute to your spouse’s RRSP until the end of the year he or she turns 71. It’s also good to know you cannot simply transfer from your own RRSP to your spouse’s. As might be expected, withdrawals from a spousal RRSP are handled differently. If a withdrawal is made within three calendar years of a contribution, some or all of the withdrawal will likely be taxed in the hands of the contributing spouse. Otherwise subsequent withdrawals from a spousal plan are taxed in the hands of the account owner (your spouse). There is no such thing as a spousal TFSA. Unlike a spousal RRSP, it is your spouse’s available TFSA contribution room that limits how much money they can contribute to the account. As with any TFSA contribution, there is no tax credit to be claimed by the contributor, but the money grows tax-free and can be withdrawn at any time, tax-exempt. Also, any money withdrawn from the TFSA can be contributed the following calendar year in addition to your allowable contribution limit, unlike an RRSP or spousal RRSP. Consult with your advisor to determine the best uses for a RRSP, Spousal RRSP and/or TFSA based on your situation, goals and finances. ©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.
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PhotoS BY LIBBY STOKER-LAVELLE
Lois Pedersen:
Going Wild with Watercolour - Libby Stoker-Lavelle -
S
ometimes invention—and creativity—can come from the most surprising places. This is certainly the case for Flin Flon painter and NorVA resident Lois Pedersen, whose happy discovery has become a fascinating art exhibit. While Lois Pedersen has been painting with acrylic for decades, three years ago she started working with a new medium: watercolour on yupo. Yupo is a type of synthetic paper that has a unique effect when used with watercolours. “I love this paper,” Pedersen explained, “It gives me the freedom to ‘go wild.’ It is quite different in that your paint lays on top, rather than being absorbed into the paper, so it is easy to wipe spots off as you are painting. You can even take it under the tap and clean it right off.” While painting on yupo one day, Pedersen discovered a new artistic approach. “I was painting and had set one piece aside. After I finished working on another one, I flipped the second one on the first painting, thinking it was dry. But when I took them apart, I realized that the one underneath was still wet in spots, and as a result, an intricate design had been made on the two pieces.” “After that, I started doing this on purpose,” she continued, “painting one piece, laying another on top, and pulling them apart. You’re never quite sure what you’re going to get.” Pedersen then paints more details into the two resulting pieces. “I see what is already there,” she explained, “and I have to be careful to preserve the areas that I want a certain way, or they might disappear. The hardest part is to know when to leave it alone—because you can’t paint over it, you have to start again from scratch.” Pedersen’s watercolour paintings were on display at the NorVA Centre in April, as a special exhibit called Nature Gone Wild. For Pedersen, the exhibit’s name is particularly apt for a few rea-
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sons. First, Pedersen draws inspiration for her work from her walks in the forested areas around Flin Flon. “Our area here in the north is so beautiful,” said Pedersen, “and when I get out in nature, I just feel like I’m … closer to God.” Pedersen’s deep connection to the natural world is conveyed vividly in her watercolour work, where the vibrant scenes and washes of colour encourage viewers to let their imaginations run freely. The “gone wild” in the title of the exhibit speaks to the experimental approach of this work, which helped Pedersen explore a new level of creativity. “It is so different,” she said thoughtfully, “With acrylics… my style is quite precise. With this, there’s the freedom to loosen up, and let the paper talk. It is a totally different feel.” While Pedersen has been working on artwork of some kind, from sketching to ceramics, for over thirty years, a few years ago she came close to giving up her painting entirely. “The bedrooms upstairs were full of quilts, and frames, and paintings,” she recalled. “There was no more room! I told my husband, ‘That’s it, I’m quitting painting.’ Pedersen’s husband suggested she give her paintings to her nieces and nephews—who were thrilled to pick out their own favourites from her artwork. “Most of them left with four or five pieces,” she recalled, “And I got so much pleasure out of it, it was better than Christmas!” Fortunately, Pedersen kept painting, and now she has a dedicated workspace at NorVA, where her paintings and cards are also available for sale. As one of NorVA’s most prolific artists, Pedersen can be found at her easel most weekday mornings, along with Yoda, her miniature Yorkshire terrier. Lois Pedersen’s exhibit, Nature Gone Wild, was on display for the month of April. Visitors can meet Pedersen and see more of her work at the NorVA Centre in Flin Flon.
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Walleye
The Prince of the Lake
Morley Naylor shares some insights on one of our more popular freshwater residents. - Morley Naylor A few “fishy” issues back, we went on at length about our friend the great northern pike and the lack of respect that he receives above the waterline. References such as freshwater barracuda, snot rocket, slimer, and hammer handle were made. Most people, however, do admit that experiencing a hit on their line with a 25-pound pike is an unforgettable moment - a sort of aquatic explosion as he takes your lure with all the tenacity of a freshwater shark. In this issue, we move on to a very different aquatic friend, the largest member of the perch family: the walleye. Walleye are also commonly called pickerel, and comments about this fish are in stark contrast to the remarks accorded Mr. Pike: the most sought after prize, a smart predator, top sports fish, gourmet’s delight. While some call the walleye a gourmet’s delight, with its light flavour and decidedly un-fishy taste, others value this species’ smarts, strength, and unique characteristics, including its two dorsal fins and its pearlescent eyes (which have earned the walleye the nickname marble-eye among some anglers). In this issue, we’ll get to know this fellow a lot better – he obviously has a lot going for him. With fishing and tourist season nearly upon us, there is no time to waste, but first we have a few scores to settle.
The bona fide “Walleye Capital of the World” We in Cottage North country have known for years that our area is la crème de la crème for Walleye sport fishing — nowhere else even comes close. The subject reared its ugly head again a few months ago in a conversation with some southern friends, who shall remain unnamed. I’ll now re-open the can of worms, just to set the record straight. Locals here know that the fishing lodges that dot our pristine lakes and rivers attract countless thousands of tourist-fishermen each season, and a huge percentage of these anglers come from our great southern neighbour. Well, as some may know, several cities in North Dakota and Minnesota claim Walleye Capital of the World. The two main claimants appear to be Wally the Walleye and Willie the Walleye. Wally is a statue perched upon two poles in front of the city park in Garrison, North Dakota. Right under the huge fish is a sign which reads Garrison, Walleye Capital of the World. The statue itself is a whopping 26 feet long and a pretty nice replica of the actual fish. Here in the Cottage North area of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, catching real walleye of this size is not uncommon. (At least that’s what I heard from Uncle Fred at the coffee shop — but he lost the pictures.) Moving on to Willie, the walleye statue in Baudette, Minnesota, we find a similar character only this one is touted to be 40 feet long and weighs in at two and a half tons. This little city also claims to be the walleye capital of the world. Willie has been around a while, as we are told that he turned 50 years old in 2009. Maybe a community can claim to be the capital by having the biggest or oldest statue—who knows. Do our good neighbours from the south not realize that they
Get to know the walleye The colour of the walleye is highly variable depending on habitat, with golden colour characteristics in many populations. Usually they are paler with less obvious markings in turbid water and more strikingly marked in clear water. Despite these differences, walleye are consistently olive and gold in colour. The olive and gold pattern is broken up by five larger saddles that extend to the upper sides, with colour shading to white on the belly.
The first dorsal and anal fins are spinous, as is the gill cover. The dorsal fin spines are treacherously sharp but have no venom.
The sensitive nerve endings that run along each side of the walleye’s body can detect the slightest vibrations in the water. The lower tip of the caudal (tail) fin is white and there may be a large black blotch at the rear of the first dorsal fin.
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The fish known as walleye [latin name Sander Vitreus or Stizostedion Vitreum] earns its name from the fact that its eyes point outward. This externally-facing orientation of the eyes gives off a certain “eyeshine” which results in the fish being able to see well in low light conditions and turbid waters, giving them an advantage over their prey. This excellent vision also allows the walleye to populate deeper waters in the lake, especially during the warmest part of the summer. As we know by now, the freshwater wolf—the northern pike, his chief predator—is never far away, so go deep to avoid him.
Walleye have excellent hearing: they can hear a school of baitfish from a long distance away and even minor sounds in a fishing boat can spook an otherwise aggressive walleye, especially in shallow water.
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Walleye have a large mouth and are armed with wickedly sharp teeth to catch and tear prey. Walleye have thousands of taste buds in their lips.
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Wally the Walleye Statue in Garrison, Minnesota. Photo by Todd Murray
are treading close to an International incident? Surely they must realize that walleye fishing is a patriotic symbol in Canada and such provocations could lead to another 1812-14 like war? I’ll draw first blood by asking the question: How many Canadians over the years have flocked to the northern US to fish for walleye? Have the residents of these “walleye capitals” not been to one of our northern lakes to see for themselves that in some cases a front-end loader has to be used to clear away the huge numbers of big walleye just to get the boat into the lake? Nothing personal, Wally and Willie, but to catch up to us, you’ll have to come up with some pretty tall tales. Fish Facts • A walleye can live more than 20 years • A large female can lay up to 500,000 eggs per year. • Walleye travel several miles a night, up to 50 miles a night on the Great Lakes. • Unlike northern pike, walleye are not especially cannibalistic – walleye will only eat their own kind if food is scarce • Walleyes are clean fish; they seldom have diseases that humans can catch • The walleye is the official fish of Saskatchewan; it is also the state fish of Minnesota and South Dakota
spawning time each day is from dusk until midnight. As darker water warms more quickly than clear water, and shallow water faster than deep, walleyes will be in different stages of spawning on different parts of the lake. A large female can lay up to 500,000 eggs, which are somewhat adhesive, and no care is given by the parents to the eggs so they often fall into spaces between the rocks. The incubation period for the embryos is temperature dependent but generally lasts from two to four weeks. After hatching, the free swimming embryo spends about a week absorbing the relatively small amount of yolk. Once the yolk has been fully absorbed, the young walleye begins to feed on invertebrates, such as fly larvae and zooplankton (floating or drifting organisms in the water). After 40 to 60 days, juvenile walleyes become fish eaters. Henceforth, both juvenile and adult walleyes eat fish almost exclusively, frequently yellow perch or ciscoes, moving on to bars and shoals night to feed. Walleye may also feed heavily on crayfish, minnows, and leeches. Where to find Wally OK, enough theory – where do we find this guy? I’m certainly no expert, and rank amongst the “worst” fisherman, but I have gathered some tips from those much more informed than I. As mentioned above, in the spring, walleye spawn soon after the ice goes out. They tend to hang around in the shallow water (under 15 feet, or 5 metres) to feed and may stay shallow all day as the low angle of the spring sun has little effect on their light sensitive eyes. In summer, as the water temperature rises, and the light from the sun is higher in the sky, they go to deeper water (15 to 30 feet, or five to nine metres) during the day, but during the diminished light of early morning and late evening the walleye move back to shallower areas to feed. In the autumn, these guys move shallower as well, as the water begins to cool. The fall sun is again lower on the horizon allowing the walleye to feed during the day. As things get much colder, the walleye scatter when the water temperature drops below 4 °C (39 °F) and the oxygen content is constant at all depths.
That’s a big fish In some cases, walleye grow to about 80 cm (31 inches) in length and weigh up to 9 kg (20 pound). Their growth rate varies with habitat, but in general, females grow larger than males. We won’t get into official records, other than to say that the maximum recorded size for this fish is 107 cm (42 inches) in length and 11.3 kg (25 pounds) in weight. Other recorded catches include 22 pounds, 11 ounces and 18.3 pounds under the former weight system, and 34 and 33-and-three-quarters inches in length under the newer measurement system. Any way you view it – these prize catch fish were huge. It is believed that walleyes can live for decades, with the maximum recorded age being 29 years. However, in heavily fished areas few walleye are found over five or six years of age. 500,000 eggs Walleye spawn soon after the ice is out, when the water warms to about 4 °C (39 °F). Pre-spawn walleyes congregate in 25 to 30 feet of water and move shallower to spawn. Walleye are the last fish in the lake to spawn, and will travel upstream to areas including creeks and bays. They will look for rocky or gravel areas to lay their eggs. They come from all over the lake to their spawning area, with the heaviest concentration in three to 10 feet of water. Not all fish spawn at the same time – spreading the spawn out as the water temperature ranges from 40 °F to 45 °F (4 °C to 7 °C) The peak
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A big catch at the Laurie River Lodge, Manitoba. Photo contributed by Brent Fleck
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Artwork by Timothy Knepp
A walleye feast Because of my well-known fishing incompetence, our cherished first trip of the season is under the guidance of what would be best described as a seasoned veteran of walleye fishing. It’s an early Saturday morning, perfect weather – the kind you dream of all winter, especially while shovelling snow and battling January blizzards. Off we go, and by the large number of boats on the lake, many others are experiencing the same joy. Before long, we are separated from the herd and pulling in to an area of rough water where a stream enters the main lake – the water is fairly turbulent and an area is selected where we will jig for a period of time to see how it goes. Our pro explains that we are taking advantage of the walleye chop, which apparently is a term for rough water and is a good sign for walleye hunters, due to the fishes’ increased feeding activity during such conditions. Amazingly, within a matter of less than half an hour we have our legal limit and bragging goes on unabaited. But, wait—the best is yet to come. We pull up on shore, and our friend prepares a feast fit for a king. Several packets of two fillets each are placed in aluminum foil, buttered and flavoured with salt and pepper. Lemon slices are added, with a bit of parsley and a few fresh asparagus.* The foil packs are wrapped shut and grilled over an open fire until done – about 10 to 15 minutes. What a tasty treat. What a trip. What an experience. We go back across the lake with the remainder of our catch headed for the deep freeze
Baked Walleye The foil-wrapped walleye fillets described in Morley Naylor’s story are one of the more popular ways to enjoy this fish, but there are many more options to try—especially if you have several fillets in your freezer. Here’s a tasty dish featuring another northern treat, wild rice. Page 32
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and scheduled for consumption at a later date. For sure, Cottage North country is the Walleye capital of the world. *Note from the author: new baby potatoes – baked in tin foil with butter, salt and pepper and onion slices, are a great addition as well Commercial fishing It goes without saying, that with the vast numbers of lakes and river systems in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, commercial fishing is a huge industry. Manitoba alone has at least 37 fish packing stations scattered throughout the province, many here in the north. Yearly statistics averaged over the years 2001 to 2011 indicate that 12,758,863 kg (round weight) of fish species were commercially fished and 5,370,304 kg (42 per cent of total catch ) were walleye. This production figure represents $20,711,067 or 71 per cent of the total value of fish harvested during the same period. Obviously, Wally is a big-time contributor to our economy and a slam dunk for popularity on the dinner plates of Canada and USA. And so ends our visit with the Walleye – Prince of the Lake. We are so fortunate to live in an area where he abounds. We can only hope that the authorities at all levels of regulation will enforce protection and conservation of this truly wonderful fish long into the future. Next time, we’ll move on to the very popular Lake Trout – aptly dubbed The King of the Lake.
INGREDIENTS 4 oz butter 1/2 chopped onion 1 cup of chopped mushrooms 8 walleye fillets 1/2 lb. butter (1 stick should work for the healthier meal) Bread crumbs or panko (enough to cover fillets) 1 cup uncooked wild rice 6 oz. sliced almonds Salt and pepper to taste
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METHOD Slow cook the wild rice and drain. In 4 oz. of butter, saute onions until they are just about transparent. Add the cooked wild rice and mushrooms. Season the walleye fillets with salt and pepper to your liking and roll them in bread crumbs. Place the walleye fillets in the oven and bake at 450 degrees. This shouldn’t take more than about 15 minutes. Use the rest of the butter to saute the sliced almonds in a separate pan.Serve the walleye fillets and you can put them on top of the wild rice or with the rice on the side. Spoon the butter and almonds over the fillets. Garnish.
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Recipe courtesy of Tourism Saskatchewan. Find more at www.fishing-in-saskatchewan.com
Thousands of tourists flock to one of the continent’s most symbolic and scenic attractions, the International Peace Garden. Bird watchers enjoy discovering the more than 100 identified species of songbirds nestled in the forested Turtle Mountain area. Moose, deer, beaver and turtles are permanent residents within the garden. Crackling campfires at the private, modern campsites kindle new and old friendships as does time spent in the beautiful “One of a Kind Garden.” On the upper Formal Garden terrace, you’ll find the famous photo shoot location where visitors can stand with a foot in each country. In the distance, straddling the US and Canadian Border, is the Peace Chapel. Etched into fossil-embellished limestone walls are dozens of quotes from People of Peace” as well as the book of remembrance, displaying the names of the victims of 911. Along the border walk is the 911 Memorial Site, with twisted girders rescued from the World Trade Center devastation. The “Contemplative and Stroll Garden” completes the site. Other features of the phenomenal Formal Garden are the floral displays and Sunken Garden with the octagon shaped pond. A year-round Interpretive Center houses a dining restaurant, conservatory, retail store and moderate horticulture library. The conservatory reveals thousands of succulents and cacti: 40 years of collections. It is the first of its kind in North Dakota, and only the second in Manitoba. A 37-meter Peace Tower is interesting and seems to sway on a cloudy breezy day. An American and Canadian Floral Flag display adds to the peace and tranquility felt throughout the garden. Checked by GPS, an 18-foot working Floral Clock keeps perfect time. The International Peace Garden is home to the International Music Camp, Legion Athletic Camp and North American Game Warden Museum. The Game Warden Museum is a must-see building with various mounted animals and birds.
International Peace Garden 2014 Summer Highlights May 11: Mother’s Day Event: Free Gate Admission, Plants for Mothers & Entertainment. Mother’s Day Buffet 11:00 – 2:00. Discounted Season Pass May 23, 24 & 25: International Music Jam June 5 & 6: Fiddlers’ Workshops June 6: Fiddle, Guitar and Banjo Showcase 7:00 p.m. Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony with Bush Dance to follow ($12.00) June 8: Fiddlers Contest 8a.m. – 10 p.m. Finals 7:00 p.m. ($12.00) June 27: International Brass Quintet 8:00 pm July 11, 12 & 13: 51st Intern ‘l Ham Radio Festival July 13: 54th KC Field Mass & Catered Meal July 13: Odd Fellows & Rebekah’s Annual Picnic Aug 3: F.A.M.E. Summer Festival August 8, 9 & 10: O.E.S. Meeting & Pilgrimage August 9: Mason’s Annual Meeting August 16 & 17: Gospel Festival /Quilt/Button/ Antique Sewing Machines Displays. September 11: 911 Remembrance Day October 3-5: Oktubafest June 20-July 25: Free Concerts on Friday Nights May 11- Sept. 7 Sunday Buffets 11:00- 2:00 Subject to change. Check Website for updates.
Stay a day or more, and you’re sure to create lifelong memories at the International Peace Garden, one hour south of Brandon. Call 1-888-432-6733 or visit www.peacegarden.com.
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Fit for a King - Penny Byer -
Penny Byer explores the unique culture of Thompson’s National King Miner Contest, a well-loved event that has been a part of the community for over forty years.
J
ackleg drilling, steel packing and crib building: these terms are familiar to miners, but in the National King Miner Contest, they take on new meaning as intense competitive events. The National King Miner Contest was first held in 1971, and continues to be an annual event in Thompson, taking place each year during the city’s Nickel Days festival. The contest includes upwards of a dozen individual events, ranging from the labour-intensive crib building to the skill-challenging jackleg drilling. While most competitors enter as individuals, some also join forces for the team category. Overall expertise is crucial to success in the contest, as each competitor’s combined scores in all the events determine his or her placing in the contest. “The event first started because other mining communities would hold similar events; and the people of the day thought it would be worthwhile to hold one here,” explained Murray Nychyporuk, president of United Steelworkers, Local 6166. “They initially built a permanent site at the rec centre grounds. Vale (then Inco) contributed in-kind and cash donations, and still does. And, especially in the 1980s, there would always be a waiting list to get into the competition.” Of course, the mining industry has changed significantly since the contest began. Over time, individual events have been added or let go, and there have been other adjustments through the long history of the contest. In spite of the changing times, however, three key elements have persisted: the camaraderie of the competitors, the support of the business community, and the dedication of the volunteers. Mentoring the rookies and passing the torch The 1970s and 1980s were a vibrant period for the National King Miner Contest. when competitors travelled from as far as Campbell River, B.C. and Yellowknife, NWT to compete. It was a time when Thompson miner Lorne Spicer, who won the National King Miner title seven times, was the one to beat. In the early '80s a young man by the name of Ed Chuckrey was starting to put on the pressure. “A co-worker, Brad Mastervic, talked me into competing,” recalled Chuckrey, “It was a simple ‘Let’s do it’. I came in second my first year, and didn’t even realize it.”
Photo by Jason Book
A Famous Face Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, Lorne Spicer was ‘the one to beat’ at the National King Miner Contest. He earned the title seven times. Spicer may have given up his title as National King Miner, but he will long be immortalized as the model for the National King Miner Statue, which greets visitors to Thompson at the south end of the city.
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“We’d try to coach each other, encourage each other. We felt if the ones we were helping did a better job than us, then we did a good job teaching them.” Ed Chuckrey was a pillar miner at Inco at that time, so cutting logs, building cribs, nailing and other labour-intensive work had him wellconditioned for the competitive events. In 1983, he claimed the National King Miner title from Spicer; today, Chuckrey still holds the record for number of titles: 12 in all. “In those days, we didn’t train or prepare for the contest,” he recalled. “I always looked at how I could reduce steps to get the event done. That reduces time, and that’s beneficial in timed events. Others started doing the same thing and started to perfect their moves – just like in any athletic event.”
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“When you go through life, there are highlights that are always with you. This is one of those highlights.” “And that’s the other thing,” he continued. “We always had a buddy system, especially with rookies. We’d try to coach each other, encourage each other. We felt if the ones we were helping did a better job than us, then we did a good job teaching. I felt honoured to be able to mentor people like Randy Radesic and Brian Woytkiw [the current title holder].” Woytkiw, who was a miner when he first started competing, has won the title eight times, including last year. “The first year, I didn’t place in anything,” he recalled. “It was a real eye-opener. I thought to myself ‘I’m no natural’ and realized I had to start training to do well. For those first couple of years, I never thought I wanted the title, but after watching someone like Ed, it became my goal to beat him. Ed was very good. He was also very humble and very approachable; he’d be one of the first to help you. He always gave you good advice and told you what you needed to do to improve.” Woytkiw was first under the impression that excelling in the contest simply required strength. “But you have to have your cardio together, too. If you don’t, you’ll find something like crib-building exhausting.” When he still lived in Thompson, Woytkiw would start training in his backyard in April for the June event. His daughters would help, becoming proficient with a stopwatch. He also learned strategy from Ed Chuckrey. “You have to be patient, he’d say,” related Woytkiw. “Don’t try to place first in every-
thing. That’s when you could make a mistake that could cost the title. It’s all about timing and placement.” Brian Woytkiw went on to win his first title in 2002. “I was grateful that Ed was competing the first year I won. It made it special for me. It had become a goal to learn from him and be able to beat him. And now, I have guys telling me, 'Don’t you dare stop competing until I can beat you’.” Being a miner is not a requirement for competing in the King Miner Contest; fire fighters, physiotherapists and others have competed in some or all of the events. Woytkiw himself no longer works in the mining industry. As an RCMP officer, he no longer lives in Thompson either, but he continues to return each year, from wherever he is stationed, to compete in the King Miner Contest. “I’ve asked myself why I keep returning to compete,” he said. “But when I’m there, I realize it’s probably one of the best days of my life. Because of the camaraderie, I still feel I belong there, that I’m part of the community. The guys are good; they want to see everyone do the best they can. When you go through life, there are highlights that are always with you. This is one of those highlights.” A new location, and a team effort Major construction at the rec centre grounds forced the organizers to give up the permanent site four years ago. The contest moved to mobile sites including a downtown Thompson parking lot. “No one thought we could get it off the ground, when we went to a mobile site,” recalled Murray. “And it meant a lot that we didn’t lose the event. It was thanks to the volunteers, competitors and businesses, especially Vale. If it weren’t for them, we would not have the event.”
King Miner Events • • • • • • • • • • •
jackleg drilling stoper drilling hand mucking pipe fitting log sawing crib building nail driving steel packing ladder climbing hose mending bolting
Brian Woytkiw, eight-time winner of the National King Miner title, shown in the crib-building event in 2013 Photo courtesy of United Steelworkers Local 6166.
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This year’s contest
This year’s National King Miner Contest will be held on Saturday, June 21 at 9:00 a.m. on the south side of the Thompson Regional Community Centre. For registration and contest details, contact Torrance Sukhbir at 204-778-2287, or torrance.sukhbir@vale.com.
National King Miner Contest Winners Through The Years
Glen Hayden was the winner of the hand-mucking event, the first runnerup in the National King Miner competition in 2011. Photo by Ian Graham
Each year, Vale donates equipment and the services of its riggers and transportation crews to help set up the staging for the drilling and ladder climbing events; the company also provides safety gear and special clothing for the Honorary King Miner and Honorary Driller. Don Johnson Jewellers donates a one-of-a-kind National King Miner ring every year. Other business support ranges from providing materials and equipment to cash donations for the $16,000 in prize money. “Support comes from almost every business sector in Thompson,” said National King Miner Contest Chairperson Torrance Sukhbir. “Just look at our programme and you’ll see many long-time supporters.” Besides coordinating the contributions of the business community, Sukhbir is responsible for organizing 35 judges and dozens of volunteers; developing the programme for the day; and ensuring everything else is in place—from signage to safety gear to portable toilets. As Ed Chuckrey notes, all this work is for an event which goes by in a flash for competitors: “Torrance spends hundreds of hours in preparation, and in twenty-some minutes I would be done!”
Carl Kolada . . . . . . . . . . . Dennis Buchberger. . . . Lorne Spicer . . . . . . . . . . Joe McLean. . . . . . . . . . . Ed Chuckrey . . . . . . . . . . Peter Apetagon . . . . . . . Merv Templeton. . . . . . . Al Meston . . . . . . . . . . . . Trevor Martin . . . . . . . . . Loren Thevenot . . . . . . . Brian Woytkiw. . . . . . . . . Joe Burton. . . . . . . . . . . .
1971 1972, 1974 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982 1978 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000 1984 1985, 1991, 1997 1986 1992 2001, 2004 (tied), 2005 2002, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 2004 (tied), 2006, 2008
1980, 1990, 1998,
2010,
CARLEY BEARING & AUTO
Looking to the future “We have talked a lot about the future of the National King Miner Contest,” noted Murray Nychyporuk. “If we go to a permanent site again, we would like to include a family area and a site to depict the evolution of mining, with pictures to show mining equipment today versus historical mining equipment. That’s the dream. But we will be looking at other approaches, something to attract more competitors. Maybe, instead of having each person compete one at a time, we will have competitors competing in the same event at the same time.” “There have already been changes – changes to make events fairer to all contestants, changes in sites,” said Brian Woytkiw. “I look forward to it. Change is always good.”
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Poetry Corner
A Poem by Pat Vickery
On April 4th, Flin Flon writers and readers celebrated National Poetry Month with a poetry reading at the Flin Flon Public Library. This annual event is hosted by the local writers guild and the toastmasters club in collaboration with the library, and participants are encouraged to share their own work, or read a poem written by someone else. A special guest was in attendance this year, British poet, playwright, filmmaker and arts activist Louise Wallwein. Wallwein had spent the week in Flin Flon working with budding writers at the Women’s Resource Centre and the Flin Flon Friendship Centre’s youth program. She also led a workshop for local writers at the Victoria Inn. Highlights of the poetry evening included readings from high school and elementary school students and some “musical poetry” courtesy of Ann Ross and Doug McGregor, who got the crowd singing along with Don McLean’s classic American Pie. In honour of National Poetry Month, here are a few pieces by local poets.
A poem is black and white Trying to describe colour A poem is the words to a song Whose melody has escaped it. A poem is a net of words That can only describe Something wonderful That has just slipped Through it A good poem Celebrates its own failure To bind in words What only failure Can liberate A poem is a little machine Delicately manufacturing air For ideas to fly in.
March 20th by Sheila Marchant Now the cold wind crushes our fondest belief that the first day of spring would bring us relief from the long winter chill and snow piled so high, —it’s enough to make even an optimist cry. But in case you feel down in the mouth with grief, let’s hope whatever is left will be brief. And a thought that might cheer, is that somewhere beneath all the frost of this winter lies our first green leaf.
Upon Deciding to Move North by Landice Yestrau One heart torn between another and many. A lonely feeling, Self-imposed. Ignorant and rude heart, abandoning the beats dulled by another. When to reconnect to the vessels? Fervent, stoical. Simple, agonizing choice.
Numerous poets and readers contributed to the National Poetry Month reading at the Flin Flon Public Library Photo by Daniel Dillon
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Hopping Northward: The Manitoba Herps Atlas The 5cm-long wood frogs live in forests, marshes and grasslands throughout Manitoba
Biologist Doug Collicutt explains how he is using collaborative technology, and the keen eyes of nature-lovers across Manitoba, to track the 24 species of amphibians and reptiles living in the province. - Story and Photos by Doug Collicutt -
“T
hat’s a frog making that noise?” It’s a question I often hear when I do talks in support of the Manitoba Herps Atlas. People have trouble believing that the sounds I play for them are the mating calls of frogs and toads, especially since none of them sound like “ribbit”. I am an independent biologist specializing in non-game species and native flora, and The Manitoba Herps Atlas (MHA) is a citizen-science project I operate on www.NatureNorth.com. Its aim is to collect new location records for amphibians and reptiles, collectively known as herpetofauna or “herps”, in Manitoba. This information will ultimately help with the conservation of these species and of our natural heritage in general. I run the MHA, and NatureNorth.com, with some initial government funding for the building of the website, and lots of input from citizen scientists all over the province. Manitoba Conservation cooperates with the MHA and makes use of our data for conserva-
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tion planning. If we want to make the right conservation decisions about these critters and northern environments in general, we need more current information. And that’s where you come in. How it works: The MHA lets people enter records of where they’ve seen or heard amphibians or reptiles through an email submission form and then view the results online. The online database uses a Google Fusion Table to present the records in a table or on a map. You can even sort or filter the records to see just the results for one species or just the records you’ve entered. Since 2011, more than 4000 records have been submitted, including many for a number
Did you know? With their sticky toe-pads treefrogs can walk up glass windows. They are often found on phone booths at night hunting for insects attracted to the lights.
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of Species at Risk in this province. More than 70 people have submitted records and we’ve collected new records for all 24 species of reptiles and amphibians known to occur in this province. We’ve already been able to show that the range of one species, the Mink Frog, which is found in southeastern Manitoba, is much larger than was previously thought. The Manitoba Herps Atlas is off to a good start, but we need to involve more people from remote and northern parts of the province, since northern Manitoba makes up about two thirds of our province, but so far there are only a handful of records in the MHA database from this region. What kinds of ‘herps’ could be living in northern Manitoba? You can see maps on the MHA website of where we think all Manitoba’s herps live right now, but there’s been so little research on these northern critters that these are really just guesses. There are six kinds of frogs and toads, and one species of snake that we know get into northern Manitoba; depending on where you start calling it “northern” Manitoba. There may be other species of frogs, a salamander or two and maybe even turtles that get pretty far north. The reality is, we just don’t know. That’s why we need your help.
Did you know? In the early 1970’s Manitoba used to export 50,000 kg of Leopard Frogs each year (over 1 million frogs), mostly for use in the scientific dissection trade. In the 1970’s a disease swept through Manitoba nearly wiping out Leopard Frogs. Though numbers have recovered there is no longer any commercial collecting.
Boreal Chorus Frog Pseudacris maculata There have been multiple MHA entries for boreal chorus frogs in the northern parts of Manitoba, and researchers still don’t know how far north they live. Keep your eyes and ears out for them in your area this summer! Description: A small frog, up to 3.5 cm long. Variable in colour and patterning, from light brown to rusty brown, gray to bright green, with dark patches and stripes in any combination of gray, green or brown. Underside is light gray or cream coloured. The colour of individuals can lighten or darken considerably in a short period. The absence of an 'X' on the back distinguishes chorus frogs from a similar-looking species, spring peepers. Habitat: Moist forests and grasslands, or edge of wetlands. Can be found in any moist habitat. Status and Range in Manitoba: Boreal chorus frogs are widespread and abundant in Manitoba. They are found throughout the entire province except in the far north (the northern limit of this species' range needs to be defined). Overwintering: The boreal chorus frog survives freezing next to the ground. These frogs flood their body tissues with glucose, which acts as an antifreeze, allowing them to survive temperatures down to about -10 C. Under the insulating cover of ground vegetation and snow, temperatures near the ground surface rarely dip below this point. Diet: Chorus Frogs conform to the general frog and toad rule of “if it moves and will fit in your mouth, eat it!”. These small frogs have a diet consisting mainly of small insects, like mosquitoes and other tiny flies. Their tadpoles eat many kinds of organic matter found in the water: algae, live and dead plants, dead animal matter, etc.
More than 70 different ‘citizen-scientists’ have contributed data to the Manitoba Herps Atlas online.
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Life Cycle: Males call from mid-April to early June in southern Manitoba. Chorus frogs congregate at small ponds, calling from the cover of vegetation at the water's edge. Eggs are attached to submerged vegetation. In southern Manitoba, eggs laid in April will result in transformed froglets by late June or early July. Timing of this species' life cycle in the north needs to be defined.
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Want to contribute your finds to the Manitoba Herps Atlas? Here’s how: 1. Find out which species live near you. Visit Manitoba Herps Atlas website. 2. Know what you’re listening for. The best way to find frogs and toads is to listen for them near their breeding ponds in spring. You can learn the calls each species makes on the MHA website and find some hints about where to look for ponds and what time of year to listen. 3. Head out into the field. When you find a ‘herp’ and you’ve identified it correctly, visit the “Submit Data” section on the MHA site. Even if you’re not completely sure which species you’ve seen or heard, you can submit a tip on the website’s ‘tip line’. Every individual tip makes a difference! Become a citizen-scientist, and help protect Manitoba’s natural heritage! Visit www.naturenorth.com/Herps/ Manitoba_Herps_Atlas.html
Did you know? Snapping Turtles were once used by police to locate human drowning victims. Tethered turtles were released into the water and would seek out decaying corpses using their powerful olfactory senses.
Red-sided garter snakes can be found in moist woodlands and edges of wetlands. Huge numbers of these snakes share underground caves as winter dens in Manitoba’s Interlake region
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Garden Fresh Produce Our Bakery has a large selection of healthy choice grain products North of 53 Consumers Co-op Gourmet Fresh cut meats - Our cutters are on duty for you 31 Main St. 204-687-7548 Investing In Our Communities A variety of lower-fat dairy products to choose from in our Dairy Section Healthy eating is important to good health. Food nourishes your body and gives you energy to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. Eating the right foods can also help reduce risk of many chronic diseases. Eating well doesn’t mean giving up foods you love; it means choosing food wisely. Try some of the following suggestions when making food choices: Select a variety of foods from all groups such as fruit, vegetables, dairy and grains; Emphasize cereals, breads, other grain products, vegetables and fruit; Choose lower-fat dairy products, leaner meats and foods prepared with little or no fat; Achieve and maintain a healthy body weight by enjoying regular physical activity and healthy eating; and Check the Nutrition Facts table on food labels to compare products more easily; determine the nutritional value of foods; better manage special diets; and increase or decrease your intake of particular nutrients.
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Bruschetta This simple Italian appetizer is a true crowd-pleaser
Ingredients
Fresh Tastes for Spring Entertaining
8 plum tomatoes, diced 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tbs balsamic vinegar 1 tsp olive oil 1/4 tsp sea salt 1/4 tsp black pepper 1 loaf French bread, lightly toasted and sliced
It’s hard to beat the pleasure of dining outdoors. Whether you’re grilling on the deck, preparing for a family picnic, or gathering friends for an evening get together, these recipes are sure to please.
In a bowl, toss together the tomatoes, basil, Parmesan cheese, and garlic. Mix in the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, kosher salt, and pepper. Serve on toasted bread slices.
Avocado & Black Bean Salad This healthy salad is a great side for all those summer barbecues.
Dice:
1 tomato 3 celery sticks 1 avocado 1 red pepper ½ a red onion
Toss with:
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained 1 cup corn Add dressing and mix Refrigerate, covered for at least two hours to let flavours blend
Suggested dressings:
2 tbs Italian dressing, or homemade vinaigrette (mix 1 tbs balsamic vinegar with 1 tbs olive oil, a squeeze of lemon juice)
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• HIS TO RY • CU LTU RE
• HIST ORY • CULTUR E Photo Contes t Winner ! Round 3 pg. 28
r Holidays Tips for Healthie f Economy • 8 es from Flin Flon Thompson's Wol ing • Santa Com Fish Pro i's Bob Izum
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Q&A
Shawna Ducharme-Wilson with
Ducharme-Wilson at the nationals
- Marc Jackson-
Snow Lake's Champion Arm Wrestler
S
hawna Ducharme-Wilson is a 45 year-old Snow Lake woman with an unusual pastime: competitive arm wrestling. This young lady, who originally hails from Wabowden, Manitoba, has won numerous competitions both provincially and nationally. When she isn’t arm wrestling, Ducharme-Wilson works as a hoist operator on Lalor’s Vent Shaft. I caught up with Shawna at her home in Snow Lake where she lives with her husband Wayne, who arm wrestles as well. Q. When did you start arm wrestling, and could you explain how you got into it? A. I started arm wrestling when I was 15 years old. I started by arm wrestling boys in high school; my Uncle would make bets with them that they couldn’t beat me. I can’t say how much we made, because I’m pretty sure he kept all the money. But aside from that, I always arm wrestled as a younger lady during special events that took place at college, university, and at festivals. I didn’t turn pro until 2010 in Ontario (Ducharme-Wilson lived in Long Lac, ON for 17 years). That’s when I realized there was a professional circuit for pullers*. Q. How did you get good at arm wrestling? Is there training involved or any special technique you employ? A. My physical training involves wrist curls with weights, arm curls, grip exercises, rice exercises (opening and closing the hand in a bucket of uncooked rice), finger exercises, holding weights with fingertips, a lot of tension band training on my arm wrestling table, as well as hand control and technique training with a partner, usually my husband or son. Once you have built up strength, technique is by far the most helpful strategy for winning. Most people don’t find me too intimidating, as I am pretty small [she weighs 134 pounds] but with technique it adds a lot of shock value when I have to pull women who are 50-plus pounds heavier than me. Q. Is the sport overseen by some governing body? A. Yes each province has a governing body, and from there we have the Canadian Arm Wrestling Federation, and World Armwrestling Federation. Q. How are categories determined within the sport? A. There are usually two weight classes in unsanctioned events, zero - 160 pounds and 160 pounds and
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over. In sanctioned events and at nationals and worlds there are four weight classes. There are separate gender classes, as well as left arm and right arm, and at nationals and at worlds there is an age class (masters): 45 and over. I usually pull in two or three weight classes and compete when they host a women’s open class; meaning all weight classes compete. Q. How many competitions have you won? How many people were involved in these competitions and how many would you normally have to beat in order to get to a final? A. In the ladies' classes, there are usually five to ten competitors; I normally would have to pull per cent of them more than once, as they would have to try to beat me twice in order to knock me out of my position. I have won every tournament that I have attended, and was undefeated up until the recent provincials (husband Wayne came third in his weight class). I came in second due to pulling with two injuries, which I would not recommend. I made the choice, as I needed to qualify for nationals. I have won about 15 unsanctioned events, and six sanctioned events, as well as Northern Ontario, and All Ontario Nationals. Q. Are you particularly proud to have beaten any individual competitors? A. No one in particular, as those I compete against are all fierce pullers and take arm wrestling as seriously as I do. I do like beating men though, and have many times! Q. Is there anything else that you feel is important to mention? A. A lot of people ask me how much money I make at the sport. Just like any other sport, it is based on titles, and it does become costly when you have to travel across Canada to compete. For example, Worlds take place in Lithuania this year, so fundraising is important, as is sponsorship. I am very lucky to have a supportive and proud husband and family. *Arm wrestlers are called pullers because the best basic move in arm wrestling is to first pull your opponent’s arm back to you before trying to press sideways for the pin.
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Last look
alanna kurytnik: The Lone Loon
The Capture the North photo contest brought us so many wonderful photos. Here’s a look at a few we loved but weren’t able to publish.We thank all the photographers who submitted pictures to our contest. We were inspired, in awe, amazed.
Kyla Lyn: Perpetual Winters’ Wear
Kayla Bates: Rolling Silence curtis matwishyn: Red Fox
colin knight: Bee-decked
carolyn carleton: End of the Day
ken johnson: The Cast
Alex McGilvery: Royal
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