Cottage North Volume 12 Issue 6 by Cottage North

COTTAGE north November - December 2014

The Spirit of the Season Thompson teen advocates for the homeless Health auxiliary volunteers share the love in Flin Flon Dancers in The Pas help Rwandan street kids get on their feet

A Cottage North Christmas Special section! Unique gift ideas from local businesses

Sombre centennial

Recipes from the region’s top chefs Holiday stories from your community

Morley G. Naylor explores the legacy of WWI, 100 years after the war began

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November - December • cottage north magazine

Inside

November-December 2014 • Volume 12, Issue 6

Features

COTTAGE north

11 Thompson's Warrior for the Homeless

Fifteen year-old Owen Settee has mobilized the citizens of Thompson to improve the quality of life of homeless people in that city. Penny Byer

20 The War to End All Wars

Remembrance Day 2014 takes on special significance as it marks 100 years after the start of World War I. Morley Naylor

26 Community, Care and Friendship

For decades, the volunteers of the Flin Flon Health Auxiliary have been making a difference far beyond the hospital walls. Libby Stoker-Lavelle

28 The Pas Means Business

Shawn McKinney shares his vision for economic development in The Pas. Libby Stoker-Lavelle

30 Thrill the World

Youth in the Pas join a global dance movement for change, inspired by Michael Jackson. Libby Stoker-Lavelle

33 A Cottage North Christmas: Gift Guide

Check out some of the best gifts from Flin Flon & Thompson, with local stories & recipes to brighten the season.

40 Unveiling the Truth

Dedicated to residential school survivors, a new monument now stands on the Kiskinwuhumatowin Urban Reserve in La Ronge. Valerie G. Barnes-Connell

In Every Issue 4 Editor’s Note 6 Calendar of Events 7 In a Nutshell 16 Wildlife: Ptarmigan 43 Poetry Corner 44 A Good Taste Estofado de bistec (beef stew)

ON THE COVER Gerry Clark's trio of ptarmigans lend a wintry feel to our cover this month.

46 Q&A: Will Shepherd cottagenorthmagazine.ca • facebook.com/cottagenorthmagazine • @cottagenorth

At the end of October, my partner Dan travelled from Flin Flon to Winnipeg with a group of 25 students and staff from Hapnot Collegiate. They attended We Day, an event that is designed to inspire youth to take action, locally and globally, on issues that matter to them. The group spent almost as much time on the road as they did in the city, but every person on that bus returned home with a sense of hope for the future. Dan sent me a text from the event, with this quote from one of the speakers.

From the Editor's Desk Cottage North is published six times a year by The Flin Flon Reminder in Flin Flon and is distributed free of charge to businesses and services throughout northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Publisher Valerie Durnin

“I am only one, but I am one. I can’t do everything, but I can do something.” — Edward Everett Hale In this issue, we will introduce you to individuals in our region who are choosing to do something to make a difference today. At 11 years old, Owen Settee was shocked to learn that people in Thompson were living on the street and eating food out of dumpsters. He decided to take action and mobilized a group of students to collect much-needed funds for the local homeless shelter. Four years later, Settee continues his mission to bring awareness to the needs of the homeless people in his city. In The Pas, Amanda Emsland is using dance as a catalyst to raise funds for a group of street kids in Rwanda who changed the course of her life. In the process, Emsland has motivated local children and youth to get involved as well. In Flin Flon, 44 women volunteer together as the Flin Flon Health Auxiliary. For decades, the members of this organization have brought a personal and caring touch to the city’s healthcare spaces. Along the way, these volunteers have developed loyal friendships, a deep sense of belonging, and enormous gratitude for the personal rewards that come with community service. These stories are powerful reminders that each of us can shape our community by responding to what moves us and making the choice to act with our hearts. In my two years in this part of the country, I have found that the community spirit is alive and well in northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Perhaps the colder our hands get, the warmer our hearts become. Bring on the winter!

Editor Libby Stoker-Lavelle Production manager & layout editor John Bettger Advertising & graphic design Krista Lemcke Sales & marketing advisor Karen MacKinnon Office administrator & copy editor Julian Kolt Receptionist Rose Daneliuk

Letters to the Editor Do you have an opinion, a photo or a brief story to share with Cottage North readers? Send in a contribution to our new Letters to the Editor section! 4

Libby (Elizabeth) Stoker-Lavelle

Subscribe to Cottage North Support your local magazine & have Cottage North delivered to your door six times a year! Makes a great gift. One year subscription (6 issues): $36.00 GST incl. Advertise With Us Contact Krista Lemcke, krista@thereminder.ca We welcome submissions of photos, art and articles at all times. Please contact us if you have something to share! Cottage North 14 North Avenue, Flin Flon, Manitoba, R8A 0T2 phone: 204-687-4303 fax: 204-687-4473 www.cottagenorthmagazine.ca facebook.com/cottagenorthmagazine email: cottagenorth@thereminder.ca Cottage North Magazine Vol 12, Issue 6 Printed in Canada, 2014.

@cottagenorth

Contributors

Sheila Marchant “Reach for the Sky” p. 43 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.

Valerie G. Barnes-Connell “Unveiling a Monument” p. 40 Valerie G. Barnes-Connell has been the reporter/photographer for the La Ronge Northerner for the past eight years. She lives in La Ronge.

Morley G. Naylor "The War to End All Wars" p. 20 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.”

Penny Byer “Thompson’s Warrior for the Homeless” p. 11 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.

Kelly Oswald “Creighton Kodiaks remain on top ...” p. 10 Kelly Oswald is a sports, community, and recreation reporter for The Flin Flon Reminder. She moved to Flin Flon seven years ago, following her graduation from NBCC’s Journalism program. Oswald enjoys the people, culture, and spirit of the community.

Gerry Clark “Wildlife Corner: Ptarmigan” p. 16 Gerry Clark is a retired schoolteacher whose whole career, starting in 1969, has been at Hapnot Collegiate in Flin Flon. His interests include drawing, mostly portraits and some caricatures; photography, mostly wildlife but also sports, involving his four grandsons; and writing, mostly about local history.

Chase Pabianek "Ptarmigan Hunt" p. 17 Chase Pabianek was born and raised in Flin Flon, Manitoba. He is a recent graduate of Hapnot Collegiate and plans to pursue a career as a pilot. He enjoys being outdoors and goes hunting, fishing, and quading whenever possible.

Ian Graham “Two art show prizes awarded to Thompsonites” p. 7 A graduate of the University of Victoria’s writing department, Ian Graham has been with the Thompson Citizen and Nickel Belt News since 2007, joining the newspaper as a sports reporter and photographer. He was named editor in August 2014.

Brandy Reid “Reading Advent Calendar” p. 34

Marc Jackson “Hudbay adds to its long legacy” p. 9 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.

Brandy Reid is a stay-at-home mom to two very active boys. As a former librarian, Brandy loves to read and promote reading every day. Brandy proudly admits that she is a bit addicted to social media, especially Twitter. You can find Brandy sharing her thoughts at myunwrittenlife.com.

Shannon Smadella “Advocating for families ...” p. 7

Correction “B-47 Explosion and Rescue” from Volume 12 Issue 5 referred to an event that took place near Big Sandy Lake, Saskatchewan. The cover text and table of contents mistakenly referred to Sandy Bay, SK. Cottage North regrets the error. cottagenorthmagazine.ca • facebook.com/cottagenorthmagazine • @cottagenorth

As a charitable business professional, humanitarian and former Miss Canada, Shannon has travelled the world aiding various causes. From TSN sports host to freelance journalist, the University of Saskatchewan alumna enjoys writing for various publications in her free time. She is working on her third book and is a mortgage specialist with RBC Royal Bank. 5

November - December

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 Nov 15: Creighton Community Club Annual Fall Craft/Home Business Sale. Contact Dianna Boulet, 306 688-3538. Creighton community hall Nov 16: Denare Beach Annual Fall Supper. Denareplex, 5 p.m. Nov 17-30: Photography Club Exhibit. Norva Centre Nov 19: Black Umofolosi at the R.H. Channing Auditorium, 7:30 p.m. Nov 27-28: Wizard of Oz, R.H. Channing Auditorium, 7:30 p.m. Nov 28: Santa Claus Parade. Route follows Main St. and Church St. 6 p.m. Nov 28-29: CADAC’s Festival of Trees Auction and Craft Sale. Contact Laurel Mackie (306) 688-8291, Creighton Community School Dec 6-7: Flin Flon Community Choir Christmas Concert, R. H. Channing Auditorium Dec 12: Community Children’s Christmas Family Dance, Creighton. Contact Channa Senyk (306) 688-3538 Dec 14: Kids Christmas Party, Denareplex, 2-4 p.m. Dec 28: Home for the Holidays, performance by local and returning musicians. Hosted by Doug MacGregor and Ann Ross. Norva Centre. Dec 31: First Night Out, family New Year’s Eve event. Creighton Community Hall, 6:30 pm. Contact CADAC (306) 688-8291

Black Umfolosi specializes in imbube music, gumboot and Zulu dance. The group will perform on November 19 in Flin Flon

The Pas

Thompson

Nov 1-26: Prairie and Beyond Exhibit by Mike Grandmaison, Sam Waller Museum Nov 7: Jimmy Rankin Concert: Back Road Paradise. Kelsey School, 7:30 p.m. Nov 19: Home Routes: Fraser & Girard, Sam Waller Museum, 7 pm. Nov 30: Carrot Valley Country Craft and Bake Sale Dec 7: A Festive Christmas Celebration: Community Choir Concert. Sacred Heart Cathedral, 7 p.m. Dec 13: Gingerbread House Contest for ages 5-13. The Pas Library, 2-4 p.m.

Nov 8: Jimmy Rankin Concert. Letkemann Theatre, 8-10 p.m. Nov 20: Home Routes: Fraser & Girard, 7 p.m. Contact homeroutes.ca Dec 15: The Old-fashioned Christmas Concert, Letkemann Theatre Dec 12-14: Don MacLean Bantam Minor Hockey tournament. Contact Angela Haase angelahaase@live.com for more info.

Prince Albert Nov 15-16: Mad Hatter Theatre Company presents Cinderella, E. A. Rawlinson Centre, 2 p.m. Nov 18: Norman Foote performance, E.A. Rawlinson Centre, 7 p.m. Nov 21: Fiddle Frenzy with Donny Parenteau and Brian Sklar. E. A. Rawlinson Centre, 7:30 p.m. Nov 23: Christmas with the Barra MacNeils, E.A. Rawlinson Centre, 7:30 p.m. Dec 5-13: Disney’s Peter Pan Jr., E. A. Rawlinson Centre, 7:30 p.m. Dec 19: Festive Magic, performances by local singers, dancers and instrumentalists. E. A. Rawlinson Centre, 7:30 Dec 21: Tenore-Christmas with You. Trio of tenor voices. E. A. Rawlinson Centre, 7:30

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November - December • cottage north magazine

In a Nutshell: A miscellany of regional news

~ Ian Graham ~ Teresa Burrows and Larry Hall of Thompson were first and second at the Rural and Northern Art Show in Winnipeg for a mixed media and beadwork sculpture and a wire representation of a bonsai tree respectively. Top prize went to Burrows’ Disappearance of Shaking Tent Sisters – The D’amoiselle Siren, which explored issues relating to missing and murdered women in Manitoba. “I looked at the strength and power of women who came through the darkness and, like the caribou in their migration north, bring the light back in their antlers,” said Burrows in her artist’s statement on the work, which focuses on recognizing victims, confronting systemic abuse in Manitoba’s northern community and engendering respect for all women and the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer) population. Hall received second prize for Cliff ’s Edge, a wire sculpture inspired by the fragility of the bonsai tree. “I am primarily a photographer and as such pay close attention to detail in nature,” Hall said in an email to the Thompson

photos courtesy the thompson citizen

Top two art show prizes awarded to Thompsonites

Disappearance of Shaking Tent Sisters — The D’amoiselle Siren by Teresa Burrows

Cliff ’s Edge by Larry Hall

Citizen. “My current endeavour in art is focused primarily on something new - wire tree sculpture in the bonsai styles, mirroring the real bonsai I also grow.” Despite their beauty, living bonsai trees can be difficult to keep alive, Hall said, while his sculptures are not so constrained. “Many people love bonsai but do not have much success keeping them alive,” he said. “These fill that need to see the organic in a permanent form. In metal I mimic the wild growing trees in the northern wilderness with wire, and have evolved my technique to great success.” Pieces entered in the art show included more than 30 artworks by the best emerg-

ing artists in rural and Northern Manitoba, some of which were selected from regional juried exhibitions held this year in the central, Westman, Selkirk/Interlake and northern regions of the province. The Rural and Northern Art Show is attended by more than 3,000 people every year and offers artists exposure to an urban audience, which gets the opportunity to see what is being created outside Winnipeg's Perimeter highway. It is put on by the Manitoba Arts Network, a non-profit charitable organization that presents 60 performances and art exhibitions in 25 locations through the year. Article excerpted with permission from The Thompson Citizen

Advocating for families in Cranberry Portage for twenty years ~ Shannon Smadella ~ This year, a valued community centre is celebrating its 20th year in operation. The Child and Family Resource Centre (CFRC) in Cranberry Portage aims to “strengthen and support families through services, programs and advocacy,” according to the non-profit organization’s mission statement. Staff and volunteers at the CFRC coordinate events and programs for residents throughout the year including family skate and ski days, parenting classes, playgroups, first aid courses, a book buddy program, and handicraft classes. The CFRC also leads the Best Beginnings: Baby & Me program, which provides pre and post-natal support in five communities in the region.

On November 29, The Child and Family Resource Centre will host their annual Cranberry Christmas Sale. This event, now in its sixth year, provides a venue for local and regional artisans to promote their work and an opportunity for locals to discover a variety of gift items, while also serving as a fundraiser for valued community programs. A number of other local organizations will participate in the event, including the Grace Church, Legion #137, North Star Quilt Guild, Cranberry Portage Heritage Museum, Flin Flon Lions Club, and the Frontier Collegiate Institute commercial cooking class, among many others. The Cranberry Christmas sale will run from 9:30 to 3 pm at the elementary and high school gyms in Cranberry Portage.

cottagenorthmagazine.ca • facebook.com/cottagenorthmagazine • @cottagenorth

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November - December • cottage north magazine

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Actors John Taylor, Tom Heine, Buz Trevor, Landice Yestrau and Steven Fisher rehearse for The Wizard of Oz.

The Land of Oz comes to life in Flin Flon ~ Libby Stoker-Lavelle ~ It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a devoted cast and crew to bring a theatrical production to life. The members of Ham Sandwich, Flin Flon’s local theatre troupe, are hard at work preparing for their upcoming performance of The Wizard of Oz at the end of November. The cast of 10 adults and 27 children will include experienced Ham Sandwich actors and a number of firsttime actors. Alain Lachapelle and Leslie Fernandes are co-directing the production.

Numerous community members have volunteered as crew for the play, building elaborate costumes, sourcing props, building sets, and planning out the lighting and makeup for the play. “It is thanks to [the volunteers] that this show will be such a huge success,” says Lachapelle. Landice Yestrau will play the role of Dorothy; this will be her second time performing in a Ham Sandwich production. “It’s interesting to watch each actor build confidence and develop their character,” says Yestrau. “It’s so rewarding to see all our hard work, on and off stage, create a fantastic show. But, really, we just have a lot of laughs and fun!” Audience members will find that the play is slightly different from the popular 1939 film version. “The play is an adaptation of the book,” explains Lachapelle. “ It is not a stage version of the film. There are no musical numbers…we will have some piano during the play, but no singing. But the story is essentially the same.” The beloved characters whom we all know from the film will come to life onstage, with a special twist: the scarecrow, tin man, lion and the wizard of Oz all share more of their personal stories in the play. “I think the audience will really enjoy the show,” remarks Leslie Fernandes. “It is funny, exciting, and a bit scary at times. The kids are doing a great job, and the sets, costumes, makeup, lighting and sound will all help to transport the audience to the Land of Oz.” The Wizard of Oz will be performed on November 27 and 28 at the Flin Flon Community Hall. Tickets can be purchased at Northern Rainbow’s End in Flin Flon.

Hudbay adds to its long legacy One could say that September 16 was a banner day for Hudbay Minerals; it was a day that saw the company’s representatives cut ribbons on two northern Manitoba mines. At noon, company officials, government representatives, invited guests, and Hudbay employees toasted the opening of their soon-to-be flagship Lalor Property. Three hours later and 80 kilometres to the southeast they did it all over again at the jointly owned Hudbay/VMS Reed Project. Both mines were welcomed and praised for what they will bring to the local and provincial economies: 373 permanent jobs and millions of investment dollars; but front and centre on this afternoon were the accomplishments of the people who nurtured the mines from drill core to mill ore. Speakers, including Rob Winton, VP of Manitoba Business Unit; Opasquia Cree Nation Elder Nathan McGillivary; Manitoba’s Minister of Mineral Resources Dave Chomiak; VMS President John Roozendaal; Snow Lake Mayor Clarence Fisher; and Hudbay CEO David Garofalo all laid praise at the feet of the people who

Photo by marc jackson

~ Marc Jackson ~

Rob Winton, VP of Manitoba Business Unit; Dave Chomiak, Minister of Mineral Resources; Wesley Vorrheis, Chair of Hudbay’s Board; and Hudbay CEO David Garofalo cut the ribbon signifying the opening of the Lalor Mine. brought the projects in on time and within budget. “It’s a true accomplishment to deliver a mine of this significance in today’s environment,” Rob Winton noted at the Lalor opening. The Reed and Lalor Projects represent the 66th and 67th mines in Manitoba history. As Hudbay’s CEO David Garofalo noted on the momentous occasion, Hudbay has built 28 of Manitoba’s mines.

cottagenorthmagazine.ca • facebook.com/cottagenorthmagazine • @cottagenorth

Creighton Kodiaks remain on top in their first six-man season

Photo by daniel dillon

~ Kelly Oswald ~ Creighton Community School’s Creighton Kodiaks team joined the Northern Saskatchewan Football League (NSFL) this fall, and proved their talents with an undefeated regular season. The team has benefitted from a dedicated coaching team which includes head coach Ryan Karakochuk, along with Jason Straille, Denis Lair, John Clark, Ryan Biberdorf, and Kody Turner. The Creighton Kodiaks are one of nine teams in the NSFL. The Eastern Division is made up of Creighton, Cumberland House, Sandy Bay and La Ronge, while the Western Division is made up of Pinehouse, Green Lake, Beauval, Buffalo Narrows, and La Loche. Running back Evan Linnick says he and his team came into the season with no expectations, but were hopeful. “It’s incredible,” he said. “We were definitely hoping [for a strong season] but honestly we had no clue what to expect and how we would compare to other teams.” The Kodiaks finished their first regular season of six-man football undefeated with a record of 4-0. They first travelled to Sandy Bay and came out on top 39-20. The Kodiaks hosted their first home game as they welcomed Cumberland House and defeated them 51-14 before hosting, and defeating Sandy Bay 61-6.

The Creighton Kodiaks faced off against La Ronge’s Senator Myles in Creighton on October 22. The Kodiaks won 55-18. The Kodiaks travelled to La Ronge and defeated Senator Myles 44-8 to finish their regular season 4-0. Having advanced to the top of the East Division standings at the end of the regular season, the Kodiaks earned home field advantage for all of their playoff games. Creighton hosted La Ronge’s Senator Myles on Monday, October 20 and defeated them 55-18 to advance to the East Division finals. The Kodiaks moved on to host Cumberland House in their divisional finals on Monday, October 27. The winner of that game advanced to the League finals in Prince Albert on Saturday, November 1 against the West Division finalists.

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November - December • cottage north magazine

Thompson’s warrior for the homeless ~ Penny Byer ~

Owen Settee has achieved the red stripe level in Tae Kwon Do, but he really stands out as a warrior in his level of sacrifice, commitment and service. submitted photo

“Warriors are not what you think of as warriors. The warrior is not someone who fights, because no one has the right to take another life. The warrior, for us, is one who sacrifices for the good of others. His task is to take care of the elderly, the defenceless, those who cannot provide for themselves . . . and above all, the children for the future of humanity.” This definition of a warrior, attributed to the famous Native American leader Sitting Bull, is posted prominently on the Owen’s Initiative Facebook page. The definition fits Owen Settee perfectly, almost as if it were crafted just for him. Owen Settee is a soft-spoken 15-year-old who attends high school in Thompson. He has achieved the red stripe level in the martial arts discipline of Tae Kwon Do. Like others his age, he is still undecided on his career path. But where Settee stands out as a warrior is in his level of sacrifice, commitment and service to people who cannot provide for themselves. In the last two years, he has raised thousands of dollars, acquired clothing, and provided meals to the homeless people of Thompson. Settee’s motivation to help came when he was just 11, when he witnessed people eating from dumpsters and sleeping in bushes for the first time. It is a situation in which most people would say “someone should do something about that.” Owen Settee did something. At that young age, he started his first fundraising effort to help feed and clothe the city’s homeless. At that time, Canada was ridding itself of the penny as currency. Owen saw that as an opportunity, and started the Pennies for the Homeless campaign. He engaged other students in helping to collect pennies in the local malls and through donation boxes. Together, they raised $1,358 in pennies, which they donated to the Thompson Homeless Shelter to help buy food. It was a timely donation, as the shelter had recently had a funding cut which had caused them to temporarily reduce their hours of operation.

cottagenorthmagazine.ca • facebook.com/cottagenorthmagazine • @cottagenorth

Owen Settee at the healthy lunch program, which he organized, at the Thompson Homeless Shelter during the summer of 2014. submitted photo

Spreading the Word Settee led the Pennies for the Homeless campaign in 2012. One year later, he stepped up his efforts by arranging for clothing donations to the homeless shelter, participating in the Surviving the Cold initiative and organizing a Healthy Lunch initiative. In October 2013, he started using social media to help spread the word. He posted his first entry on his Facebook page, Owen’s Initiative, on October 15, 2013: “Once again the long winter months are upon us. Thompson will be reaching -40° to -50° temperatures. I have created this page

to help the local Thompson Homeless by collecting canned and dry goods, turkey, ham. New warm clothing like jackets, winter boots, new socks and underwear in all sizes for men and women. If you would like to donate something, please feel free to contact us through our Facebook page. Thank you.” Settee wrote regular updates that inspired many people and businesses to contribute clothing, food and money. Local media outlets picked up on his efforts, and before he knew it, support was building quickly. “I got toques, jackets, socks, mitts and underwear — all new items,” he said. “The mayor of Thompson donated. Ovide Mercredi (former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations) donated. I got $280 from the University of Manitoba. Mary Azure-Laubman added $150 in gift cards. My family raised $200. Businesses donated money. There was stuff coming from Winnipeg and The Pas through Macdonald Youth Services.”

Making a Connection Owen delivered the clothing personally. It was a moving experience. “People said thank you or shook my hand or gave me a hug,” he said. “One man started sobbing. It almost made us cry.” Along with others, he stood outside in the cold for four hours to raise awareness and donations in the Surviving the Cold initiative. The donations collected were given to the Canadian Mental Health Association in Thompson, the agency responsible for the Thompson Homeless Shelter. Owen’s use of social media has been key to the success of his

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November - December • cottage north magazine

work for the homeless in Thompson. He regularly posts inspirational messages, such as this version of a verse from the Book of Matthew: “I was hungry and you fed me, I was naked and you clothed me. Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me”. The next month, he posted: “Good Morning to all. It is -27 today with the wind chill. Just the other day I was out and about and I saw this woman walking around wearing summer shoes and a spring jacket. With that in mind, waking up in a warm bed and in a warm house, I'm going to Canadian Tire and purchasing two pairs of winter boots, one pair men's boots and one pair of women's new winter boots with the donation money from Ovide Mercredi. Please pray for these people [who] are out on the cold streets of Thompson, MB. If more people came forward and donated to this project we could help more people this year.” In December 2013 he wrote: “It is -35, with windchill -47. Imagine being homeless in the cold streets of Thompson with no shelter, you’re hungry, and lonely. How awful it must be for the people that have to be out and about while we are warm and cozy in our bed and home. Continue to pray for these people. My thought this morning. Well, school calls, Owen.” Some of his Facebook messages included specific requests: “Good Morning to all. I will be doing the lunch program sometime next week. If you want to donate sandwiches, I need about 100, a case of water, juices, ginger ale, granola bars, yogurt, fruit or baked goods, donuts, muffins, etc. they can be dropped off at home or inbox me. This will be the last program before school starts.”

The Manitoba Heroes organization honoured Owen Settee’s work this September with a $1,000 cheque to contribute to a charity of his choice. Owen chose the Thompson Homeless Shelter. On October 7, 2014, Owen Settee presented the cheque to Paulette Simkins, executive director of the Thompson Canadian Mental Health Association, centre. along with all the fixings for a special Thanksgiving dinner. Jessica Parsons, left, Cheralyn Muskego, second from left and Christina Moody, right, also attended the donation hand-off. top Photo by Molly Gibson Kirby, Thompson Citizen bottom photo: submitted photo

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After Hours Mental Health Resource Numbers A number of toll-free 24 hour telephone based helplines are available to help in times of emotional or mental health crisis. These include: • Crisis Line 1-888-322-3019, • Suicide help line 1-877-435-7170, • Senior abuse line 1-888-896-7183, • Manitoba Farm & Rural Support 1-866-367-3276, • Health Links 1-888-315-9257, and These people are there to help in times of need. Please feel free to call on them should the need arise. The Region’s Community Mental Health staﬀ are available from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm weekdays (excluding holidays) and can be reached at 204-687-1350.

www.nrha.ca or contact our Recruitment Officers: Holly Rousson Aboriginal/External Recruitment Officer Western Campus Box 240, The Pas, MB R9A 1K4 Phone: (204) 623-9229, Toll Free: 1-866-758-7871 Fax: (204) 627-6805, Email: recruitwest@nrha.ca Dion McIvor Aboriginal/External Recruitment Officer Eastern Campus 867 Thompson Drive South, Thompson, MB R8N 1Z4 Phone: (204) 778-1455, Toll Free: 1-877-677-5353 Fax: (204) 778-1477, Email: recruiteast@nrha.ca

Dedicated to providing quality, accessible and compassionate health services for all. We proudly serve the community, while working toward Healthy People in a Healthy North. Flin Flon Regional Office 84 Church St Flin Flon MB R8A 1L8 Ph: (204) 687-1300 Fax: (204) 687-6405

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November - December • cottage north magazine

Settee organized the Healthy Lunch program this year, which started on June 22 and ran for three months. He received food donations from Thompson’s mayor and council, as well as a $250 gift card from Thompson Safeway, home baking from local citizens and cash from local businesses. He even received donations from two doctors in Edmonton, and an anonymous donation from Mississauga, Ontario. He has received supportive messages from people as far away as Germany, where his story appears to be circulating widely. Owen Settee’s efforts have gone beyond the boundaries of Thompson. He has raised money to help a family who lost their home to fire in Pikwitonei, Manitoba. He has given money to homeless people on the streets of Winnipeg. He has been interviewed by CBC Winnipeg, made presentations to mayors and councils, and has talked to anyone who will listen about the need to help others. There is no doubt Settee is both successful and humble: he is quick to credit his family, friends and the people

requests indicate, Settee’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. He was recognized in 2013 with the Manitoba Heroes Compassion in Action award. He is the youngest Manitoban, and the first in Thompson, to receive that honour. This year, Settee was honoured by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Alumni. The organization donated $1,000 to him to contribute to a charity of his choice. It is no surprise that he chose the Thompson Homeless Shelter. Settee was also recognized with the Soaring Eagle Award during National Aboriginal Day in Thompson. He has been asked to share his story by speaking to fellow youth in his former home of Cross Lake. When asked what his message is, Settee says: “To help inspire others to help others and to make a difference.”

Owen Settee was honoured with a Manitoba Heroes Compassion in Action Award in 2013. Michael Linton, producer of the Manitoba Heroes video series, congratulates Owen Settee on his award.

and businesses of Thompson for their role. “My mom is a huge support,” he says. As the responses to his Facebook

As the temperatures drop and the homeless people in the North struggle to survive another winter, Settee is showing others what being a warrior really means: compassion and action on behalf of others.

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Wildlife Corner

Ptarmigan

Photo by gerry clark

~ Gerry Clark ~ Every winter, soon after the first storms, huge flocks of white birds blow into my hometown of Flin Flon. Some people think these birds were here all along, and just turned white. They are not. They aren’t ruffed grouse, they aren’t spruce hens; they are willow ptarmigan, of the grouse family. These ptarmigan fly south as the winter sets in, though they may not fly as far as we think. According to the scientists who have studied them, ptarmigan typically don’t fly more than 150 kilometres from their nesting grounds, and it’s usually just the females that fly south, along with their young. Apparently they migrate for their preferred food, and not to escape the cold. I can only guess how scientists know this, but they say ptarmigan can easily exist at -91°C! Ptarmigan thrive even though they are at the bottom of the food chain. The huge flocks that arrive here in early winter seem to dwindle to twos and threes by March. According to one estimate I read, there are 40 million of them in Canada and they are rated in a category of least concern when it comes to extinction. Maybe the biggest secret of their ability to cope is that they have very large food storage pouches in their throats, which allow them to control how much and how fast they digest what they eat. They look like they’re fat little rascals, but loading up with fat isn’t how 16

they get through stormy days. They graze on willow buds and twigs, which are high in fibre and protein, and when the weather goes bad they just digest what is in their pouches more slowly. In the winter, ptarmigan spend most of their time roosting under the snow to conserve heat and energy. It is also how they elude foxes and coyotes, although my springer spaniel seems to have no trouble finding them. I have no idea how a flock communicates that it is time to roost, but they fly headfirst into soft snow and just hunker down. I guess when the leader decides it is safe to come out, she makes her “uck-uck-uck” sound and out they come. The ptarmigan also has big, hairy, feathered feet; these allow the ptarmigan to conserve heat and energy by “snowshoeing” during the winter. Did you know the ptarmigan is the state bird of Alaska? And apparently the ptarmigan inspired the shmoo in the L’il Abner comic strip by Al Capp. Capp, incidentally, was also the cartoonist who drew the version of Flintabbatey Flonatin that was used for Flin Flon’s statue. Shmoos were little white creatures that were delicious to eat, and in fact were eager to be eaten. They supposedly tasted like chicken when fried. I don’t think Capp tasted fried ptarmigan, but otherwise there were many similarities. November - December • cottage north magazine

Spotting a Ptarmigan The bird we call a willow ptarmigan in Canada also exists across the northern reaches of the Northern Hemisphere. From location to location they have different coloured plumage: In Great Britain, they

are called red grouse (a subspecies) and never turn white; here in northern Canada, the heads and backs of willow ptarmigan turn a marbled brown for the spring and summer. Their wings stay white, their tails black. Their heads and breasts have a reddish tinge.

Ptarmigan Hunt ~ Chase Pabianek ~ I’ve always enjoyed chicken hunting, especially when it is a day-long event that involves spending time with my dad. This hunt was a little bit different from the same old target shooting on some dirt road that I am used to; this was my first time ptarmigan hunting. Ptarmigan are a type of grouse that migrate south to this area for the winter months. It was late February, within one week of the season ending, and my father and I both happened to have the day off. With no set plans for the day, we decided to go on what would be our first (and last) hunt of the winter. We grabbed two bottles of water, a .410 shotgun and ammunition, and the required licensing. We carefully placed the firearms on the back seat of my dad’s vehicle, then set off. Fitting appropriately with the rest of that winter in Flin Flon, it was a cold and windy day when we went out for the hunt. From what we’d heard from friends and colleagues, it had already been an abundant season for ptarmigan, so my father and I were pretty excited. After a couple hours of driving, talking and keeping our eyes peeled for game, we began to feel more than a little dismayed. After exploring multiple areas on the near Flin Flon without success, we tried to keep our hopes up. One of the things I love most about hunting with my dad is how it really does end up becoming father-son bonding time. As we both have busy lives, we don’t always get to spend a whole lot of time in each other’s company, so this day was a welcome exception. We talked about what Flin Flon was like 40 years ago and my plans for the future, and we chatted about how our weeks went. I think we both relished the togetherness. We eventually turned onto the Sherridon Road in hopes of collecting a bigger bounty, or any bounty at all, for that matter. We drove past a number of vehicles making their way

Male and female ptarmigan look similar to each other. The males have a 'wattle' over each eye. These turn red and become more conspicuous in mating season. Otherwise males and females weigh about the same, between 430 and 810 grams, and they are roughly the same size.

along the road, exchanging waves, but still couldn’t seem to find a single ptarmigan. The hunting gods seemed to be mocking us as we noticed several tracks alongside the road moving through the trees. When we passed Naosap Lake, we figured it was about as good a time as any to head back, since we had been out for a few hours by that point and I had to work that evening. In what was essentially a last-ditch effort to find some prey, we got out of the truck at the slightest sign of ptarmigan having been in the area recently. We stood for what seemed like eons, listening for the birds, but I suppose they were returning the favour, as none wanted to turn up. Dejectedly, we drove on. Suddenly, our silent prayers were answered: we saw a ptarmigan fly across the road just as we rounded a bend! We stopped the truck, turned it off, and, as inconspicuously as possible, got out. Upon exiting, we saw a total of three more ptarmigan in the bush near where the first bird took off. Since this was indeed my first opportunity to shoot a ptarmigan, my dad let me take them all. I raised the gun towards the few that were still grouped together, but they attempted an escape. One flew to the side of the first ptarmigan, and the other two fled to their own separate trees. Once again, I took aim, but this time I got the shot off. In what felt like an instant, I had three birds at my feet. A wave of emotions came upon me, comparable to those I felt when listening to Meat Loaf ’s “Bat Out of Hell” for the first time. I had finally shot some ptarmigan.

The hunting gods seemed to be mocking us as we noticed several tracks alongside the road moving through the trees. Needless to say, the drive back to town was a joyous one. Even though we didn’t see any more of the birds down the few other roads we decided to travel, we knew it was a successful hunt. We spent much of our return trip talking about previous hunting experiences and other manly tales. Once we got home, my dad started frying up the game, and I washed off the mess that quickly became sticky and Continued on p. 19

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Protect Yourself and Your Family With Critical Illness Insurance

~ Lenna Gowenlock, Edward Jones ~

major illness can be a huge emotional burden for you and your family. Don’t let it become a financial burden, too. Protect yourself against the potentially high costs of a serious illness with critical illness insurance. Without this insurance, the odds are against you. Statistics show that at some point in their lives, most Canadians will face a life-threatening illness. If you’re the major income earner in your family, that’s bad financial news. In fact, a major illness can place a greater burden on your family’s finances than your death. Critical illness insurance provides a one-time tax-free lump sum payment if you are diagnosed with an illness covered by the policy. There are no restrictions on what you can do with the money, so it can be used to cover health care costs, personal care services, lost income while you’re unable to work or for any other purpose.

you aren’t excluded from coverage because of age or healthparticularly by a previous illness. And don’t look at critical illness insurance on its own. It should be part of an overall insurance plan that includes disability, long-term care and life insurance. By ensuring you’re well covered, all your family’s financial needs will be met in the event of unexpected circumstances. Your financial advisor can help determine the level of coverage that you need, and recommend a plan to meet your requirements. Insurance and annuities are offered by Edward Jones Insurance Agency (except in Quebec). In Quebec, insurance and annuities are offered by Edward Jones Insurance Agency (Quebec) Inc. © Edward Jones, Member CIPF Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice.You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.

Of course, you may have other types of insurance to help with the costs of an illness. Many Canadians have disability insurance policies, for example. But while disability and critical illness insurance complement each other, your disability policy won’t pay benefits if you are still able to work. Even if your illness prevents you from working, you might have to wait a number of weeks for your benefits to kick in. And they may be limited. Critical illness insurance offers coverage whether you’re able to work during or after your serious illness. Policies vary, but coverage typically includes cancer, heart attack, stroke, multiple sclerosis, kidney failure, blindness, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other serious life-altering illnesses. These plans are offered by life insurance companies, and are generally available to those up to age 65 and in good health. You may be able to renew your policy until age 75 or for your lifetime. Coverage generally ranges up to $1 million, although it may be possible to buy a larger policy. The full benefit is available even if you recover from the illness. But you must usually live for at least 30 days after an illness is diagnosed before benefits are received.

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We all know someone who has suffered through cancer, heart attack or a stroke – be it a family member, a friend, or even yourself. Experiencing a major critical illness can have a devastating impact on our lives and our loved ones – physical, emotional and financial. Join us to learn more about how this type of insurance can help you get through the effects of a critical illness and provide peace of mind so that you can focus on what’s important – recovery. Sponsored in part by: WHEN: November 4, 2014 at 12:00 - 1:00 pm OR 5:00 - 6:00 pm WHERE: Edward Jones Office • Suite 1, 53 Main Street • Flin Flon, MB Hors D’oeuvres will be served. We hope you will join us. Please call Landice or Beth at 204-687-5390 or landice.yestrau@edwardjones.com OR elizabeth.heine@edwardjones.com by October 30th. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. www.edwardjones.com Member – Canadian Investor Protection Fund

When buying critical illness insurance, shop carefully. Coverage, exclusions, benefits and prices can vary. Be sure that 18

November - December • cottage north magazine

Flin Flon Arts Council presents: B L AC K UMFOLOSI

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Photo by gerry clark

Suddenly, our silent prayers were answered: we saw a ptarmigan fly across the road just as we rounded a bend!

pungent. This was to be my first time eating ptarmigan, so I didn’t know what to expect. As it turns out, ptarmigan is my least favourite of the wild chickens; it just seemed to lack the wild taste that I’ve grown to expect and enjoy from other fowl. When all is said and done, though, I’d have to say that my first real ptarmigan hunt was a success. I spent half a day in the great outdoors, enjoyed some time hunting with my father, and even brought home lunch. It’s times like those when I consider myself extremely lucky to live in such a remote part of the planet, and even luckier to be able to enjoy the opportunities that living around here bring.

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N O R T H 19

Remembrance 2014

The War to End all Wars The First World War, 1914-18

A German prisoner helps British wounded make their way to a dressing station near Bernafay Wood following fighting on Bazentin Ridge, 19 July 1916, during the Battle of the Somme. Photo from Imperial War Museum

~ Morley G. Naylor ~ As we observe the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I, history recalls that it was called the war to end all wars. It was a conflict in which the combatants mobilized all their resourcesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;military, industrial and humanâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;on a scale never before thought possible. Some historians estimate that over 30 million people were killed and wounded in the four-year conflict. Sixty-five million soldiers fought in the First World War, and it was a human tragedy of almost unimaginable proportions. The scope and scale of the war exploded to previously unthinkable levels: armies were 10 times as big as they had been before, because the participating countries were rich, heavily industrialized and could afford to press most of their adult population into military service. Armies could move quick20

ly by rail, and the telegraph revolutionized the speed of communication. Soldiers were regular people: farmers, sales clerks, students and factory workers who left their families and ordinary lives behind when they enlisted. These soldiers were a far cry from the scoundrels, vagabonds and lawevaders that had often populated professional armies in the western world before the First World War. These soldiers were killed at an astronomical rate by frightening new weapons, including machine guns, modern artillery, early battle tanks and poison gas.

A brief history World War I began on July 28, 1914, when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. This rather minor incident spread rapidly and soon Germany, Russia, Great

Britain and France were all drawn in to the war, mainly due to the fact that these countries were involved in treaties that obligated them to defend certain other nations. Two major forces emerged: the Allied Forces, dominated by the Triple Entente of Britain, France and Russia; and the Central Powers, dominated by Germany and AustriaHungary. Over the four-year war, numerous nations across six continents joined in the conflict. Western and eastern fronts quickly opened up along the borders of Germany and Austria-Hungary. The first stage of combat involved bold attacks and rapid troop movements on both fronts. In the west, Germany attacked Belgium and then France. In the east, Russia attacked both Germany and Austria-Hungary. In the South, Austria-Hungary attacked Serbia. The western front became entrenched in

November - December â&#x20AC;˘ cottage north magazine

central France, and remained that way for the rest of the war. The fronts in the east gradually locked into place. Late in 1914, the Ottoman Empire was brought in to the fray. As a result, much of 1915 was dominated by Allied actions against the Ottomans in the Mediterranean. Britain and France launched an attack on the Dardanelles that ended in defeat. This campaign was followed by the British invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula, and a separate advance against the Turks in Mesopotamia. Great Britain had some victories in Mesopotamia, but the attacks on the Dardanelles resulted in British defeats. The middle, and most widely recognized, part of the war was in 1916 and 1917, a period dominated by trench warfare in both the east and west. Soldiers fought in dug-in positions, striking at each other with machine guns, heavy artillery and chemical weapons. Though soldiers died by the millions in the most brutal of conditions, neither side had any substantive success or gained the advantage. Despite a stalemate on both fronts in Europe, two very important factors surfaced in 1917. In early April, the United States, fed up with attacks on its ships in the Atlantic, declared war on Germany. Equally important, the Bolshevik Revolution prompted Russia to leave the war. An opportunity for a peace settlement came at the end of 1917. Russia was out of the war. Germany could have opened serious negotiations by offering to return captured territory. They would have still remained much more powerful than prior to the war. Instead, Berlin gambled it all on a massive attack in France, which eventually led to Germany’s defeat. Although both sides launched renewed offensives in 1918 as last-gasp efforts to win the war, both sides failed. The fighting between exhausted, sick, and demoralized troops plodded along until the Germans lost a number of individual but important battles and very gradually began to fall back. A deadly outbreak of influenza decimated both sides, and eventually the governments of both Germany and AustriaHungary began to lose control as both nations experienced multiple mutinies within their military structures. The final result was an end to the war

For King and Country

British Empire Military Deaths 1914-18

Australia �� 59,000 Canada �� 57,000 India �� 62,000 New Zealand �� 16,711 – 18,166 Newfoundland �� 1,000 South Africa �� 7,000 Great Britain ��700,000 Total British Empire military deaths:

902,000

Source: Wikipedia

in the late fall of 1918 , after the countries of the Central Powers signed armistice agreements one by one. Germany was the last, signing on November 11, 1918, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

Canadian soldiers distinguish themselves During the course of World War I, Canada paid an enormous price in human lives and injuries. A total of 619,636 Canadians served, of whom 66,655 were killed and another 172,950 injured. In the second Battle of Ypres, in 1915, the 1st Canadian Division was the

only unit to hold the line despite being attacked with poison gas. In the Battle of the Somme in 1916, the fury of war claimed 24,000 casualties. Newfoundland was not yet part of Canada, but 801 soldiers from the Royal Newfoundland Regiment fought in the Battle of the Somme. Only 68 of them survived. At Passchendaele, a 100,000-strong Canadian Corps was ordered to the front in October 1917. The British offensive was stalled and Sir Douglas Haig ordered the Canadians, commanded by Sir Arthur Currie, to deliver victory in a sea of mud. Canada captured the ridge by midNovember of 1917, absorbing the loss of 15,654 fallen soldiers. The capture of Vimy Ridge in April 1917 lives on in Canada’s collective memory. At Vimy, Canadians captured more ground, prisoners and enemy weapons than any previous British offences in two-and-a-half years of war. It was one of the most complete and decisive engagements of World War I. 3,598 Canadians were killed and another 7,000 were wounded. Brigadier Alexander Ross commanded the 28th Northwest Battalion at Vimy. He famously said of the battle, “It was Canada from Atlantic to Pacific on parade. I thought then…that in those few minutes I witnessed the birth of a nation.”

Canadian nurses helping the wounded. Photo from National Archives of Canada

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Canadian artillery firing at night over Vimy Ridge.

Losing the war to end all wars

Photo from Library and Archives Canada

The First World War was once known as “the war to end all wars.” Unfortunately, that conflict did not end all wars—indeed the way the war ended may have been a catalyst for the Second World War, which began in 1939. Many historians, in hindsight, believe that the allies were excessive in their punishment of Germany after the war, and that the harsh Treaty of Versailles actually planted the seeds of World War II rather than fostering peace. The treaty severely punished Germany with hefty economic reparations, territorial losses and strict limits on its rights to develop a military. The thinking is that the enormous resentment ultimately opened the door for the extremist Nazi party to exploit the sense of military defeat, civil humiliation and resentment in Germany, and take political control of the country.

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November - December • cottage north magazine

Canadian soldiers in a trench in 1916 Photo from Bibliothèque nationale de France

Trench warfare: The tragic legacy of the First World War Trench warfare is perhaps one of the best-known elements of the First World War. Opposing troops inhabited long lines of trenches that had been dug in sand and mud. In between these trenches lay the flat no man’s land, where soldiers were often mowed down by machine gun fire or snipers. The conditions of trench warfare were atrocious. The trenches dug were barely above sea level. The sandy-clay soil impeded drainage as heavy rains flooded the trenches, creating waterlogged living conditions. Standing for hours and days on end in unsanitary and

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waterlogged conditions while wearing watersoaked boots and socks caused trench foot, an infection similar to frostbite that caused the soldiers’ feet to go numb and resulted in painful blisters. Untreated, trench foot turned gangrenous, requiring amputation of the foot. More than 75,000 British troops suffered from trench foot throughout the duration of the war. The poor sanitary conditions often led to dysentery, which caused inflammation of the lining of the large intestine, causing stomach pains, diarrhea, vomiting and fever. The disease often proved fatal. Added to this were disease-carrying lice that infected men with trench fever. In the trenches, soldiers also had to contend with rats that were often as big as

housecats. The rats sometimes fought over dead bodies, and it was not uncommon for wounded troops to have to struggle to defend themselves from rats that attempted to eat them alive. At the beginning of the war, British soldiers survived on daily rations of 10 ounces of meat and eight ounces of vegetables. Near war’s end, this was reduced to six ounces of meat. If shot, a soldier was expected to treat his own wounds because his fellow soldiers were forbidden from stopping to help during an advance. Many of the wounded dragged themselves into shell holes, risking sinking into the mud and drowning as they awaited stretcher bearers to carry them away to safety. A large cross-section of soldiers evidenced psychological symptoms of shell shock. This condition included headaches, strange episodes of giddiness and irritation, and loss of concentration. Both sides of the First World War used chemical weapons freely. These destroyed the respiratory organs, resulting in death by asphyxiation. To neutralize the effects of the gas, allied troops wore masks of urinesoaked cotton pads. Chlorine gas was superseded by phosgene and later by mustard gas. Gas never became a decisive weapon mainly because anti-gas protection steadily grew and wind changes could prove fatal to both sides when used. Weary of these horrifying conditions, some men self-inflicted gunshot wounds in the hope that they would be taken out of the front lines. Some were even desperate enough to commit suicide by standing up in trenches making themselves an easy target for enemy snipers.

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German soldiers of the 134th Saxon Regiment with men of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in no man’s land on the western front. Photo from Imperial War Museum

The human spirit prevails: The Christmas truce On December 7, 1914, Pope Benedict XV suggested a temporary cessation of hostilities to celebrate Christmas. Germany immediately agreed, but the other major powers declined. Even without a Christmas truce, the families and friends of soldiers wanted to make their loved ones’ Christmas special. Hampers were mailed to the front containing letters, clothing, food, cigarettes and medications. What really conveyed the spirit of Christmas, however, were the troves of small Christmas trees, decorated with candles, on the parapets of the German trenches. Although the British soldiers could see the lights on the trees, it took them a few minutes to figure out what was transpiring. Could this be a terrible trick? The

British soldiers were ordered not to fire, but to pay close attention to what was going on. Over and over again on Christmas Eve, the sounds of singing and merry-making could be clearly heard across no man's land, with some Germans shouting “A happy Christmas to you, Englishmen.” Only too happy to respond in kind, British troops responded, “Same to you, Fritz.” The momentum spread along the front lines of the war. One account recalls how the English started singing “O come All Ye Faithful” and the Germans immediately joined in with the Latin words to “Adeste Fideles.” It was a most extraordinary event: two nations singing the same carol in the midst of a war. The fraternization on Christmas Eve and again on Christmas Day was in no way officially sanctioned nor organized. Yet, in numerous separate instances across the battle front, German soldiers began yelling over to their enemy, “Tommy, you come over and see us.” The still-cautious British would respond “No, you come here.” On some parts of the line, soldiers from each side would meet in the middle of no man’s land, shaking hands, wishing each other a merry Christmas and conversing as if they had been friends for years. In some areas where the combatants met in no man's land on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, a truce was negotiated: “We won’t fire if you won’t fire.” Some ended the truce on Christmas night and others extended it until New Year’s Day. Others took advantage of the truces to bury their dead. Many soldiers enjoyed meeting the formerly unseen enemy and were surprised to discover they were more alike than they had

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realized. A legendary circumstance of fraternization was the famous soccer game played in the middle of no man’s land between the British Bedfordshire Regiment and members of the German army. The Bedfordshires produced a soccer ball and soldiers played until the ball was deflated when it hit a barbed wire entanglement. This unusual and unofficial truce lasted, in most areas, for several days, much to the horror and dismay of commanding officers and army brass. It prompted the commander of the British II Corps, General Horace Smith-Dorrien, to respond as follows: “The corps Commander, therefore, directs Division Commanders to impress upon all subordinate commanders the absolute necessity of encouraging the offensive spirit of the troops, while on the defensive by every means in their power. Friendly intercourse with the enemy, unofficial armistices (ie: we won’t fire if you won’t) and the exchange of tobacco and other comforts, however tempting and occasionally amusing they may be, are absolutely prohibited.”

A local perspective We’d like to pay tribute to those from the Flin Flon area who served in, and endured the terrible conditions of, the First World War. Not surprisingly, many were also key figures in the formation of the Flin Flon Branch 73 of the Royal Canadian Legion, then known as the British Empire Service League. The branch was launched with membership recorded at 38 during the first year, 1929. Nine charter members included Dr. Ernest J. Kelley, who had served in the Canadian Army Dental Corps; Patrick Houlihan of the 107th Battalion; Samuel George Wood of the 5th Battalion; Arthur “Cap” Gilbertson of the 45th and 49th Battalions; Arthur Charles Horne of the 78th Battalion; Alfred Daimpre; Brian Haggie of the Scottish Horse and 1st Life Guards; Charles McDermott of the Irish Guards; and William J. Rhinehart of the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles. Another well-known WWI veteran was WSB Lockhart, who is still remembered today for his dedication to the local branch. On November 11, Remembrance Day activities will be held in communities around the world. Take a look around the world today and try to imagine what everyday life in Canada might be like if not for the sacrifices of others. Let us never forget the Canadians of World War I, World War II, Korea, Afghanistan, and numerous peace-keeping missions around the globe. Until November 11, wear a poppy in thoughtful observance.

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Faith in the darkest hours Father Paul Bringleson, pastor of St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Parish and Chaplain of Branch # 73 of the Royal Canadian Legion, shares his reflections on the roles of military chaplains in the World Wars. The desire for those in the military to be accompanied by their pastors is nothing new. As far back as biblical times we read that the Israelites brought their priests with them into battle. The role has changed and grown throughout the centuries, but chaplains do have a significant responsibility in any military. During World War I, many chaplains, Christian at that period, who offered a sense of both challenge and consolation to soldiers, both on and off the field of battle. Chaplains helped to inspire soldiers in the early wars to see justice and mercy as part of any military movement within the world. The atrocities of the World Wars led to most of the world sighing for some measure of hope in a very dark and challenging time. The men and women who served in those conflicts were also deeply convinced of the role that God occupied in their lives. It was imperative that they feel God’s presence among them in those difficult moments. Chaplains bolstered a sense of glory in the troops of those days and encouraged them to see the hope they were creating for the world in their engagements on foreign soil. Chaplains were a founding, consistent reminder to soldiers that God was not in some far off place waiting for them, but was alongside of them at every hour, of every day, wherever they found themselves. Chaplains helped promote unity with those they served and to also help maintain desperate ties with their loved ones back home, which was a meaningful way to encourage troops not to feel isolated or alone.

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Flin Flon Health Auxiliary members at the MHAA conference in Creighton on September 19. From left, Kay Larsson, Lil Schuman, Wanda Ginnell, Ruth Rose, Leona Lundgren, Dela Chilson and Debbie McNeill. Photo by libby stoker-lavelle

The Flin Flon Health Auxiliary

Community, Care and Friendship ~ Libby Stoker-Lavelle ~

If you live within a half-hour of Flin Flon, chances are the volunteers in the Flin Flon Health Auxiliary (FFHA) have touched your life in some way. If you’ve attended a flu clinic, bought a baby gift at the Flin Flon Hospital, or had a volunteer to talk to while laid up in a hospital bed, you’ve benefitted from the hard work of this community group. A health auxiliary is a volunteer organization that provides support to patients and staff at hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities. The origins of Flin Flon’s health auxiliary date to 1938, when the Flin Flon General Hospital was opened. A Hospital Ladies Aid was formed that year and the group remained active until 1941. The organization was dissolved temporarily while many members were involved in service in the Second World War. In 1971, 26

It just feels good, caring for people, and visiting patients in the hospital. Some of them don’t have anyone else. the Flin Flon General Hospital Auxiliary was officially organized and it became affiliated with the governing body in the province, the Manitoba Health Auxiliaries Association. In 1997, the auxiliary’s name was modified to the Flin Flon Health Auxiliary. Today, there are 44 members in the FFHA, many of whom have given twenty, thirty, forty or more years of service to the

organization. Most of these members meet once a month to organize their initiatives, of which there are many. A favourite program for many of the volunteers is the hospital cart program, which runs all year long. Auxiliary members take a cart through the Flin Flon General Hospital and the Flin Flon Personal Care Home, visiting with patients, distributing free reading materials, and selling snacks to patients and their visitors. Leona Lundgren is a long-time volunteer with the auxiliary. “It just feels good, caring for people, and visiting patients in the hospital,” she says. “Some of them don’t have anyone else.” In June each year, the health auxiliary runs a meals-on-wheels program. Last year, Wanda Ginnell took her 12 and 14-year old grandsons along for the ride. “They were so excited to go the next time,” she recalls, smiling. “They said, ‘Grandma, those people are so thankful!’” The auxiliary also runs annual tea parties for residents of local retirement homes, provides support at local flu clinics, and distributes three bursaries a year to local high school graduates who are pursuing careers in medicine. The volunteers also stock the community’s hospital with helpful items for patients and their visitors: they operate a drink machine on the main floor, create baby gift packs for sale in the nursery, and put together patient care packs that nurses can distribute to patients as needed. When asked why she volunteers, FFHA member Dela Chilson says, “It

November - December • cottage north magazine

makes me feel so good, to be able to do something for someone else without much effort.” Many of Flin Flon’s health auxiliary members are former nurses and hospital workers who feel compelled to help others; perhaps, having worked in healthcare themselves, they recognize how essential volunteers are to a community hospital.

We've all been friends for 25, 30 or 40 years, and the work is pleasurable because we all know each other. Lil Schuman, who, in her nineties, is one of the oldest members of the FFHA, moved to Flin Flon as a nurse in the early 1940s. She was the operating room supervisor then. “When Lil was in the operating room, it was like an angel was there,” says Schuman’s friend and fellow FFHA member Kay Larsson. Decades later, Schuman is still a member of the Flin Flon Health Auxiliary. When asked about the highlights of her participation in the organization, she replies,

“Meeting loyal friends, talking with patients, and helping with the concession cart…I helped where I could.” For many of the volunteers, the sense of community within the auxiliary itself has made it an important piece of the fabric of their lives. “We’ve all been friends for 25, 30 or 40 years,” explains Kay Larsson, “and the work is pleasurable because we all know each other.” The members stress that new volunteers are always welcome to join them. In September, the FFHA co-hosted the 68th annual Manitoba Health Auxiliary Association conference, along with the auxiliaries from Thompson, Snow Lake and The Pas. 113 people from all over the province attended the three-day conference, which was held at the Creighton Community Hall. At the event’s opening ceremonies, Helga Bryant, CEO of the Northern Health Region, shared her gratitude with the volunteers. “I was a registered nurse, and I’ve watched the impact you’ve had on patients through my entire career,” Bryant said. “Thank you so much for what you do every day.” Anyone interested in helping out with the Flin Flon Health Auxiliary can contact the current FFHA president, Sheila Sproxton, at 687-7602.

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The Pas Means Business The executive director of a community development corporation in The Pas shares his plan to strengthen the community's economy ~ Libby Stoker-Lavelle ~ “Time has shown that communities that have not organized themselves for economic development have substantially reduced their chances for long-term economic growth and prosperity.” This ominous message comes from the Government of Manitoba’s manual for community development corporations. Shawn McKinney, the executive director of The Pas Community Development Corporation (TPCDC), agrees that creating a vehicle for long-term development is essential to a community’s growth. “You can’t create economic development in one year; you can’t write a cheque for it,” says McKinney. So how can a community create lasting change? By “being responsive to the needs [of the community] and leveraging the assets that you have,” says McKinney, noting that every city or town has its own unique advantages to build on. That’s where the TPCDC, with McKinney at its helm, comes in. As a community development corporation, the TPCDC operates independently from the Town of the The Pas, but it is funded by the municipality through a service contract that began in March 2014. The organization is managed by a volunteer board of directors, who hire staff and set terms and policies. The staff of the TPCDC, primarily McKinney at this point, are tasked with economic, community, and tourism development in the area. 28

Shawn McKinney at the TPCDC office in The Pas Visitors Centre on Gordon Avenue. Photo by libby stoker-lavelle

As first the community development officer of the Town of The Pas and then as the executive director of the TPCDC, McKinney has spent the past two years building a clear understanding of The Pas’ strengths and challenges. “It’s a long process of identifying and building on those assets, finding that information, and tracking industrial trends.,” explains McKinney. “That’s how you get to prosperity, and that’s how you increase your tax base, so you can lower your taxes, to be more competitive while keeping services alive. And that’s a valuable thing.”

A vision for the future When McKinney began his role at the TPCDC, he focused on primary research, and spoke with locals about what they perceived to be the major assets of The Pas. A number of people emphasized transportation as a key area for growth. “We are one of very few communities that sit on so many transportation linkages,” notes McKinney. First, The Pas is connected to Highway 10, one of two major highways in

the province and an essential artery for north-south travel. The town is also on the railway line to Churchill. Finally, with access to highway 283, which connects to Nipawin, Prince Albert and eventually Edmonton, the town is ideally situated on what McKinney refers to as the gateway corridor. The Pas’ access to these three important transportation routes has become a focus of the TPCDC’s vision for the community. “The Pas sits on all three junctions, and that is something that we haven’t really built on, that we see as a major value,” McKinney explains. “When you see how many logistic parks are being developed across Canada…many people are seeing transportation as a key economic driver here.” A logistics park is a type of transportation hub that is designed to facilitate the efficient transport of goods, usually across multiple modes of transportation such as road, rail, air and sea. Two Canadian examples that McKinney mentioned were Centre Port Canada in Winnipeg,

November - December • cottage north magazine

and The Global Transportation Hub in Regina. While an ambitious project such as a logistics park would be a long way off for The Pas, the TPCDC has been operating a number of smaller programs in the area to strengthen the local economy. These have included a community beautification initiative and projects to enhance tourism in the area, including the production of a tourism booklet. After listening to the concerns of citizens in The Pas, McKinney believes that fostering a culture of entrepreneurialism in the community is essential. “In order for economic development to take place, we need to create an environment where it is easier for entrepreneurs to access the information and resources they need to be successful,” says McKinney. In order to begin to address this issue, the TPCDC ran a number of seminars and workshops during Small Business Week in October.

Bringing everyone to the table In recent months, a major focus for the TPCDC has been the facilitation of the First Nations – Municipal Community Economic Development Initiative, known as CEDI. This pilot program is a joint initiative of the Federation of the Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and Cando. The program is funded by Aboriginal and Northern Development Canada, and the central goal of CEDI is to bring First Nations and municipal

leaders together to focus on their shared community development goals. The Town of The Pas, Opaskwayak Cree Nation and Rural Municipality of Kelsey are one of six groups accepted for the pilot program, which began in November 2013. Over the two years of the CEDI program, the three neighbouring communities will work on a joint economic development plan, which will hopefully lay the groundwork for long-term improvements for the region.

Investing in the future When asked for his advice to other communities that want to create lasting change, McKinney says, “build on your assets - what advantages your community has, or that are better than some counterparts - and create a vehicle that has the capacity for development, such as tools, human resources, and financial resources.” McKinney’s asset-based approach to community development is by no means novel, but it has been effective in other municipalities all over the country. For example, Thompson Unlimited, an economic development corporation, has contributed to Thompson’s growth by leveraging the frigid temperatures in that city, and marketing Thompson as a winter weather testing location. If the TPCDC continues to focus on long-term development from the bottom up, the results could be transformative. Other northern municipalities would be wise to take note.

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Community economic development (CED) is “action by people within a specific geographic community or group of communities to create local economic opportunities and improve quality of life. CED recognizes that local challenges and opportunities are as varied as the individual communities themselves. By using knowledge and resources resident in the community, CED identifies and capitalizes on local opportunities to stimulate economic growth and employment. This can include developing entirely new businesses or industries, adding value to existing sectors, strengthening capacity, and improving local infrastructure to help communities achieve their full economic potential.” - Western Economic Diversification Canada Community development corporations, or CDCs, operate in municipalities across Canada. According to the Government of Manitoba’s Community Development Corporation Manual, a CDC is “a legal entity that will allow the community a formal body to address the economic development strategy.” Reasons to establish a CDC include, among others: organizing community economic development (CED), job creation, capacity-building, increasing the local population, and mobilizing community resources to solve local issues.

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Dancing, connecting & giving back:

Thrill the World Amanda Emsland is bringing the joy of dance to children and youth in The Pas through a unique worldwide event. ~ Libby Stoker-Lavelle ~ On five o’clock on October 25 2014, nine zombies gathered in the Otineka Mall in Opaskwayak, just outside The Pas. They were not alone: thousands of others gathered around the world in public spaces at the exact same time. As the clock struck the hour, the sounds of “Thriller,” by Michael Jackson, filled the air, and the zombies came to life, dancing in unison to Jackson’s iconic choreography. The zombies in The Pas are local dancers who participated for the first time in a global dance movement called Thrill the World. Each year, Thrill the World organizers recruit dancers, teach them the Thriller choreography, fundraise for various local charities, then gather in a public space to dance together. Many dancers dress in costume, with elaborate zombie makeup. The participants’ bizarre appearance, combined

with their coordinated dance moves, creates a dynamic show for passersby. Ines Markeljevic, a dance instructor from Toronto, developed the idea for Thrill the World when she taught the Thriller dance to 62 people in 2006, and set the Guinness World Record for the largest Thriller dance in one location. In 2007, Thrill the World was established, and 1,722 dancers participated in 80 cities worldwide that year. The event has grown considerably since then. In October 2013, 6,451 people in 22 countries, on six continents, participated in the dance. According to the organization’s website, the purpose of Thrill the World is to share the joy of dance, bring communities together, and create opportunities for individuals to fundraise for their local charities. In 2013, a former resident of The Pas, Amanda Emsland, decided to bring this unique worldwide phenomenon to northern Manitoba. “As a young woman growing up in The Pas, I felt very isolated and like I didn’t quite fit,” recalls Emsland. “Once I left, I quickly realized there was a much bigger world out there.” Several years ago, Emsland was facing a number of debilitating health issues. She decided to turn her life around.

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Gilbert Rutaremera and Amanda Emsland at Thrill the World 2013 in Kigali, Rwanda submitted photo

Emsland quit her job as a registered nurse, and moved to an ashram in British Columbia. She committed to studying yoga, healing herself, and finding a new path in life. A few years later, Emsland’s travels brought her to Rwanda, where she met Gilbert Rutaremera, an orphan from the 1994 genocide in that country. “Gilbert supports himself through dance and gives free traditional dance lessons to local street kids in hopes of giving them a chance at survival,” says Emsland. Rutaremera’s dance group is called Inkondo Z’Incamihigo. With the camaraderie of the group, and the chance to learn skills they can use to earn a wage, Inkondo

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Z’Incamihigo is a lifeline for these children and youth. Emsland and Rutaremera worked together to form the Thriller Group, and bring Thrill the World to life in Kigali. The group participated in Thrill the World in October 2013, creating awareness for Inkondo Z’Incamihigo and raising funds for the dancers. Fostering a sense of teamwork has been key to the success of the Thriller Group in Kigali, as Emsland sees it. “The regular dancers are teaching [the dance] to the younger ones,” she says. “We are building leaders by allowing those who have natural leadership skills to rise up, and have an opportunity to shine.” In November 2013, Emsland moved back to The Pas. After 13 years away, she felt she had valuable skills and experiences to bring back to her hometown. Soon after returning, Emsland formed a small business, called I Am Love In Action: Healing Ourselves Heals The World, and she started a Thrill the World

Amanda Emsland (in white, at centre) led eight dancing zombies in Thrill the World The Pas. photo by deborah howell

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Members of Inkondo Z’Incamihigo/Thriller Dance Group participate in Thrill the World last year in Kigali, Rwanda submitted photo

initiative in The Pas as a non-profit project under the banner of her business. Early on, Emsland determined that the main focus for donations from Thrill the World The Pas would be the dance troupe in Rwanda. “The kids in Rwanda are the poorest of poor,” she says. “Most of these kids have nothing, but they give back hugely to the world around them. Last year, we bought a mattress and a blanket for one dancer and his three sisters, and mama and papa. Before that they all slept on the dirt floor, in a dirt hut with no covers or rags to stay warm. [It was] unbelievable that this little boy showed up to practise with me twice a week with a huge smile on his face. Inspiring doesn’t even begin to describe the impact this had.” Back in The Pas, Emsland has encouraged local children and youth to experiment with dance, and get involved with

Thrill the World. She taught the Thriller choreography to students in area schools and colleges, and collaborated with Oscar Lathlin Collegiate film students, who used their skills to create commercials to promote the Thrill the World event. These films can be viewed on YouTube. Although the turnout for the October 25 event was relatively small, Emsland sees the project as a success so far. “My intention with the event is to engage the community with something that promotes creativity, and offers opportunity to be involved in something that spans across the globe,” explains Emsland. Emsland fundraised $1190.50 through Thrill the World in The Pas. Of those funds, $257 were earmarked for a charity in The Pas. The dancers in Rwanda chose Aurora House, a women’s shelter in The Pas, as the recipient.

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The bulk of the funds raised will go towards supporting the street kids in Kigali. This will include paying Rutaremera for his dance instruction, and buying group T-shirts that the dancers can wear when performing, though most of the money will go towards supporting the members of the group with their basic education, clothing, medicine, and food costs. “I love connecting the community and youth of The Pas to the kids in Rwanda,” says Emsland, noting that her experiences in Kigali were “life-changing”. By connecting children in two distant parts of the world, supporting street kids in getting on their feet, and bringing the joy of dance to many, Amanda Emsland is now creating life-changing experiences for others as well. To learn more about this initiative, visit www.facebook.com/thrilltheworldthepas.

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November - December • cottage north magazine

Christmas A Cottage North

Flin Fl on & Are a • T h o m p s o n & Are a • T h e Pa s Cottage North has collected gift ideas, seasonal recipes & stories to get you in the holiday spirit. The Reading Advent Calendar Brandy Reid Stuffed Pork Roast with Homemade Apple Sauce Natasha Ward

Great Gift Ideas from these local businesses

Season's Greetings from The Pas of The Past Sam Waller Museum

Flin Flon Home Hardware Building Centre • CC Trubiak

Drunk Gingerbread Men Julius Jeppe

Northern Rainbow's End • Anything Grows • Big Dipper

An Old-fashioned Christmas in Thompson Libby Stoker-Lavelle A Healthier Holiday Season Libby Stoker-Lavelle Christmas Cake George Owen

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The Reading Advent Calendar

The author with one of her dad's famous SUBMITTED PHOTO Christmas trees.

In December 2011, Brandy Reid, a blogger based in Flin Flon, decided to start a new Christmas tradition with her two young boys—but at first, things didn’t quite work out as planned. ~ Brandy Reid ~ A few years ago, I decided I was going to try something new for Christmas: a reading advent calendar, an idea I had heard about from my fellow bloggers. Every night in December, we would read a different holiday story as a family. As a former librarian, I was excited to try this with my children, however, things did not go exactly how I had hoped they would. Here is what happened.  I went to our bedroom and got all of the festive items ready. I wrapped the first book in Santa-covered tissue paper and put it inside a decorated Christmas bag. For an added festive flair, I had bought a sparkly Santa hat for myself, and reindeer antler headbands with bells on them for the boys. I came up the stairs saying, “Ho Ho Ho!” The boys got excited. I asked my husband to take a picture of 34

the boys and me with our silly headwear. Well, that turned into a circus. Our oldest son, Evan, was acting crazy and would not sit still. At one point he jumped up when the flash went off and then when we scolded him, he just sat there and frowned. Our toddler, Lucas, did not co-operate either. He did not like the antlers and was freaking out about them. I wanted to give up at that point, but I forged on. We read our first book without Lucas as he was too busy running around saying, “HO HO HO!” He still didn’t really talk then, but apparently he picked that up. The second night, Evan criticized my reading skills and kept pointing out words

I was missing. I wanted to say, “Are you seriously correcting me?” When we read our third book, things went a bit better. We read One Special Tree, a story about a family who looks forward to going out together to pick the perfect tree each holiday season. While searching the tree lot the young daughter comes across a lonely tree set alone at the back. The tree is in pretty bad shape (think of the Charlie Brown christmas tree) and the girl starts to feel bad that it will not get to celebrate Christmas in a loving home. Lucas even sat on my knee for a few pages of the story, until he broke the headband of his antlers and then he had no interest anymore. After finishing the story, I told Evan about our Christmas trees when I was growing up in Cranberry Portage, and how his grandpa always managed to find the tree in the forest that needed the most loving. He always performed surgery on our trees to make them look all right, drilling holes and placing branches in places where there was a big bare spot. Mother Nature, however, always had other plans. One year, our tree was bare by Christmas day. That previous summer, we had been surrounded by forest fires, so all of the trees were dry. Each day, as we walked past the Christmas tree, you would hear, “tinkle, tinkle, tinkle” as the needles fell to the floor. That poor tree was taken down at the end of Christmas day. The last night of our reading advent calendar was the best, as both boys sat snuggled into me as we read The Smallest Elf. It was simply the greatest to have my two little elves beside me. Here are a few of our favourite books from the Christmas advent calendar: • One Special Tree, by O. Kassian • The Legend of the Candy Cane, by L. Walburg • Mooseltoe, by M. Palatini • The Christmas Story, by A. Ganeri • One Snowy Night, by M. C. Butler This article has been adapted with permission from Brandy Reid’s original blog post, which can be read at www.theunwrittenlife.com

November - December • cottage north magazine

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Stuffing Ingredients 1 slice white bread ½ cup parmesan cheese 1 clove garlic 5 tbsp olive oil pinch of pepper 1/4 cup fresh parsley 1/4 cup rosemary

Make a brine by mixing together the water, sugar, and salt. Submerge roast in a roasting pan filled with the brine. Cover and refrigerate for one hour. Rinse and dry with paper towel. To prepare the stuffing, pulse together in the food processor: bread, parmesan, garlic, olive oil, pepper, parsley, and rosemary Create a pocket in the tenderloin by slicing it open on one side, like a book. Fill the pocket with half of the stuffing, and use the remaining stuffing to cover the top of the roast. Bake at 325° F for 50-70 minutes, until a meat thermometer registers 145° F. Let rest 10 minutes before carving. Serve with homemade applesauce.

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This is a family recipe that I often made when I catered for a crowd. The pork roast is delicious with the homemade applesauce, and the scent that fills the kitchen is incredible! Roast 3 lb pork tenderloin roast, sliced in half like a hock 2 quarts water 1/4 cup sugar 1/2 cup salt

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Natasha Ward Owner & Chef Mugsy’s Deli

Homemade Applesauce Ingredients 8 Granny Smith and McIntosh apples, cored and cut into chunks (peel if desired, and add ½ cup red peels from McIntosh apples for rosy colour) Juice and zest from 2 oranges Juice and zest from 1 lemon ½ cup brown sugar 4 tablespoons butter 2 teaspoons cinnamon ½ teaspoon allspice

Preparation Slowcooker method (preferred) Combine all ingredients in a slowcooker, and cook on the low setting for three hours.

Oven method Preheat oven to 350° F Add all ingredients to a Dutch oven and bake for one hour. Serves six.

November - December • cottage north magazine

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Seasons Greetings from The Pas of The Past This historic Christmas card from comes from the archives of the Sam Waller Museum.

William “Caribou Bill” Ashburton Anger scame to Canada in 1902 from England at the age of 5. He became a journalist in 1914, and liked to boast that he had worked for every newspaper in Canada. In 1929, Anger conducted a lecture tour from a log cabin on wheels, talking about conservation and life in the Canadian outdoors. In 1944 he opened the Cranberry Portage Tourist Bureau, which functioned as much as a museum as tourist information centre. Reprinted with permission of the Sam Waller Museum.

Drunk Gingerbread Men

Julius Jeppe, Executive Chef, Wescana Inn Preparation

Combine shortening, butter and sugar; beat together until creamed. Add egg, molasses and Kahlua. Mix well. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, Chestnut, ginger, nutmeg and cloves. Add in batches to wet ingredients. Form dough into a ball. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours or overnight. 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour This dough is quite moist and it is important Ingredients 1 tsp baking soda to chill it in order to roll it out. 1/2 cup shortening 1 tsp salt Preheat oven to 350 F. Roll out dough to a 1/4 cup unsalted butter (softened) 1 tsp ground cinnamon thickness of approximately ⅜ of an inch on a 1/2 cup light brown sugar 1 tsp ground ginger well floured surface. Cut with a cookie cutter 1 egg and place on parchment lined baking sheet. 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg 1/4 cup molasses Bake for 6-8 minutes, until cookies are cooked 1/2 tsp ground cloves on the bottom. I prefer my cookies not too 3 tbsp Kahlua 1 cup chopped roasted chestnut crunchy and cooked for closer to 6-7 minutes. Cool for 1 minute on cookie sheet, then I always enjoy this around the holiday season, it reminds me of Christmas at home as a transfer to wire rack to cool completely. child. Gingerbread men get a boozy boost from Kahlua — just what Santa wants after These Kahlua-flavoured cookies are a perfect photo by julius jeppe working so hard this year. treat for Santa. cottagenorthmagazine.ca • facebook.com/cottagenorthmagazine • @cottagenorth

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An Old-fashioned Christmas in Thompson ~ Libby Stoker-Lavelle ~ Pop your head into the RDPC Letkemann Theatre on December 15, and you’ll be sure to leave filled with the Christmas spirit, and a new appreciation for the diverse local talent in Thompson. Six years ago, Donna Wilson organized the first Old Fashioned Christmas Concert in the northern city. “I wanted to get the community involved…so I invited musicians and dancers to participate,” she explained. Wilson reached out to performers of all ages to create a holiday variety show. A few years ago, organizers decided to make the event free to attend. “We used to sell tickets, but soon I found out that some families couldn’t afford it,” recalls Wilson. “I then began taking a silver collection

~ Libby Stoker-Lavelle ~ Joanne LeDoux, registered dietician with the Northern Health Region, offered these helpful tips for a healthier approach to dining in the yuletide season.

The Diamond Dance Academy performs at last year’s concert. SUBMITTED PHOTO

for those who wanted to donate. I didn’t want anyone to not be able to attend a Christmas concert because they couldn’t afford it.” After the costs of the event are covered, any proceeds from the silver collection will be donated to the School of Social Work student group at UCN. According to Wilson, the joy that the audience members experience makes all the organizing worthwhile. “I love seeing and hearing the excitement from people as they leave the concert. Many people have said that the concert puts them in the Christmas spirit, and they are grateful.” The Old Fashioned Christmas Concert will take place at the RDPC Letkemann Theatre on December 15.

A Healthier Holiday Season

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Darlene Tsistos and her son perform a “Newfie” skit at the Old Fashioned Christmas Concert in 2013. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Plan to indulge…in moderation. “To say that we’re not going to overeat during the holidays is just not being realistic, or fair to ourselves,” says LeDoux. “Indulging on one day isn’t going to make or break your health. The problem comes when the holidays start on December 1 and don’t end until January 15.” If Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve is your big feast day, indulge yourself then, and stick to your regular schedule of diet and exercise otherwise. “If you plan for a bit of overeating one day, you won’t disappoint yourself, and feel guilty,” LeDoux says. “You can just start eating healthy again the next day.” Make healthy choices before that big family dinner: You can also manage the impact of big holiday meals by planning

ahead. LeDoux explains: “Have a good healthy snack before you go to a big holiday event so you’ll be less likely to fill up on unhealthy foods…go for an extra walk, and drink lots of water.” Have a plate-filling strategy. “Choose as many vegetables and fruits as possible and add them to your plate first,” LeDoux suggests. She suggests using a smaller plate, and choosing smaller portions of high-sugar, high-fat and deep-fried foods. Watch how many calories you drink. “Most people don’t realize how many calories are in a hot chocolate or a latte,” Joanna explains. Try a herbal tea as a hot-drink alternative. Alcoholic drinks also bump up the calorie-content of your meal.

November - December • cottage north magazine

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Ingredients 31/2 cups seedless raisins 1 cup currents 11/2 cups red and/or green maraschino cherries, drained 1 cup almonds 1 cup cut up pitted dates 2 cups mixed candied peels and candied fruit and citron 1 tablespoon finely chopped candied ginger 3 cups pastry flour or 22/3 cups all purpose flour 11/2 tsp baking powder 3/4 tsp salt 11/2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp nutmeg 1/2 tsp ginger 1/2 tsp mace 1/2 tsp cloves 11/2 cups butter or margarine 11/4 cups brown sugar 6 eggs 1/4 cup molasses 1/3 cup cold strong coffee

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Elders with the newly unveiled monument honouring residential school survivors on the site where two schools stood in the 1900s.

Unveiling the truth

New monument honours residential school survivors Photos & story by Valerie G. Barnes-Connell While Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s former residential school system continues to impact First Nations people in many ways, a powerful monument marks an important step on the healing path for survivors in La Ronge. 40

The Lac La Ronge Indian Band hosted the Woodland Cree Gathering on the Kiskinwuhumatowin Urban Reserve from August 26 to 28, 2014. A highlight of this gathering was the unveiling of a monument dedicated to residential school survivors. Members of the three First Nations who make up the Woodland Cree meet annually for the three-day Woodland Cree Gathering, where members can share concerns, cultural events, traditional knowledge, and entertainment. The Woodland Cree include Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB), Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN) and Montreal Lake Cree Nation (MLCN). These three nations are the signatories to the Adhesion to Treaty Six, which was signed on February 11, 1889. During the opening ceremonies for the Woodland Cree Gathering, Chief Tammy Cook-Searson, of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, shared the history of two residential schools, which sat on the land that is now the Kiskinwuhumatowin Urban Reserve. The first school opened around 1906, and was destroyed by fire in about 1920. The second school opened around 1921 and was also ruined by fire in 1947. The school was then relocated to November - December â&#x20AC;˘ cottage north magazine

Truth & reconciliation “We have to tell our country the harm that was done to us. The more you speak, the more you heal.” - Jonas Bird, an elder with the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB), in his public statement to the TRC during the public hearing in La Ronge in June 2011.

From the 1870s to 1996, over 150,000 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children were placed in residential schools. Under Canadian law they often were taken from their homes without their parents’ consent, and forbidden to practice their culture or speak their own language. Healing from residential school trauma continues for many survivors of the schools. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) is giving survivors a place to tell their stories and have them kept and protected. The Commission’s mandate began in 2009 and will run until 2015, with a mission to “reveal the complete story of Canada’s residential school system, and lead the way to respect through reconciliation … for the child taken, and the parent left behind.”

an abandoned army barracks in Prince Albert, where it grew to become the second-largest residential school in the country. This school remained in operation until its closure in 1996. The Anglican Church, in partnership with the Government of Canada, ran all three schools. In 2013, the LLRIB was successful in having the residential school site declared a reserve. It was named Kiskinwuhumatowin, which means “place of learning” in Cree, and is situated within the boundaries of the municipality of the Town of La Ronge. The last Indian residential schools in Canada closed in 1996. In recent years, survivors of residential schools have had more opportunity to talk openly about the schools, the conditions children faced, and the impacts of the residential school system on First Nations people. Several years ago, Tom Roberts began approaching elders in the La Ronge area, seeking their guidance in an initiative to honour survivors of the schools and offer opportunities for healing. Roberts is a residential school support worker with the Lac La Ronge Indian Band Health Services, and a residential school survivor.

Over the past five years, TRC Commissioners Justice Murray Sinclair, Chief Wilton Littlechild, and Marie Wilson have travelled throughout Canada, listening to the stories of survivors. The TRC hosted national and community events, which offered more opportunities for survivors to speak out. Information was made available to the public on the history of the schools and their impacts on the lives of First Nations people. Another aspect of the TRC is the Missing Children Project, which documents the deaths and burial places of children who died while attending the schools. The history and impact of the residential school system in Canada is documented, in narrative form, in Canada, Aboriginal Peoples, and Residential Schools: They Came for the Children. The TRC commissioners negotiated a place where the stories, history and documents relating to the residential school system will be kept and be made available to the public. The University of Manitoba in Winnipeg will host the National Research Centre for Truth and Reconciliation through a historic agreement signed on June 21, 2013, securing the purpose of the TRC into the future. Learn more about these initiatives at www.trc.ca.

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In 2012, Roberts’ vision came to fruition with the building of a replica of the boat that carried children from northern areas such as Stanley Mission, Sucker River and Grandmother’s Bay to the school in La Ronge in the 1940s and 1950s. The project had particular meaning for Roberts, whose mother travelled on the boat from Stanley Mission. On August 8, 2012, people were invited to ride in the boat, and share their stories of the residential school. The boat was then burned in a ceremonial fire, as a way to bring healing from the trauma suffered by many of those who attended the schools. At that time, Roberts announced plans to create a permanent memorial on the site of the two La Ronge schools, a monument which would honour residential school survivors. There was much discussion among the LLRIB Chief and Council over the location of the new monument, which is located near the former site of the Indian agent’s house. Some people wanted to see the monument on the actual site of the two resi-

Participants in the Woodland Cree Gathering look at a display of the Indian Residential Schools in La Ronge provided by Graham Guest and the Northern Saskatchewan Archives.

dential schools; some expressed concern regarding vandalism. Still others noted that they didn’t want to be reminded of the school, preferring to put the past behind them. During the Woodland Cree Gathering, the New Dawn Drum Group led survivors of the schools from the stage area to the veiled monument. Two Elders, both residential school survivors, unveiled the monument: Elizabeth Charles, who attended the La Ronge school, and Albert Ross. Tom Roberts spoke to the crowd during the unveiling ceremony, recalling the Canadian government’s intent, voiced by Sir John A. MacDonald, to “take the Indian out of the

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child” through the residential school system. Roberts noted that, while there were some benefits that came from getting an education through the schools, “It didn’t have to be done that way.” Chief Perry Bellegarde of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) spoke, as did the other chiefs, about the impacts of the residential school system on First Nation people and the need to work together to ensure treaties in Canada are implemented. In addition to the memorial unveiling, the three-day Woodland Cree Gathering included workshops in the cultural skills of the Woodland Cree, including moose hair tufting, birch bark biting, birch bark canoe building, beading, and blanket making. Many participants also learned about traditional plants and medicines, and experienced a hands-on healing ceremony. Other activities included trapper events, canoe races, a fish derby and live entertainment by a number of performers including the Asham Stompers, Sagkeeng’s Finest, and Yvonne St. Germain.

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November - December • cottage north magazine

Poetry Corner

Reach for the sky

By Sheila Marchant

Our mighty stack stands tall and proud as it reaches to touch an errant cloud. A thing of wonder when it was built to send smoke so high it could no longer wilt the fruits of our gardens, the green of our grass ’til the day we all feared finally came to pass and our smelter shut down. No more smoke would embark. So our tall, tall stack’s now our cherished landmark.

In 1973, Glen Ross Campbell captured these photo of construction on the 825-foot smelter stack, operated by Hudbay (then HBM&S) in Flin Flon until June 2010. “As a professional photographer, and the only one I know of in the north then, I was hired many times for industrial commissions, especially for HBM&S. This was one of them,” says Campbell. “I was strapped into the helicopter with the door open so my equipment could be outside and I could move from side to side for clear shots. For the official opening, dignitaries were transported to the top of the stack. I am not sure how they got there – internal elevator or helicopter.” PhotoS reprinted with permission from Hudbay

Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill MP Rob Clarke

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Please contact my office if you are having problems with EI, CPP, Passports, CEP, Status cards, CRA, Agriculture Canada or any other Federal Government programs or departments.

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Wishing you pleasant & beautiful winter days!

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a good taste

Estofado de Bistec

Beef Stew Recipe by Chef Francisco Darinel Rivera Story and photos by Libby Stoker-Lavelle The hearty, rich flavour of this homemade stew is guaranteed to warm you up on those chilly winter nights. Preparation Time: 30 minutes Cooking Time: 1-5 hrs

(depending on cooking method chosen)

Makes: Six servings Serve over wild rice

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Steps Part I: 30 minutes Warm vegetable oil in a large pot.

Ingredients 2 tbsp vegetable oil 1 850 grams of stewing beef 2 cut into 2 cm cubes 2 leeks, diced ½ white onion, diced 2 tsp ground coriander seeds 2 tsp ground cumin seeds 1 tsp allspice 3 bay leaves ½ tsp nutmeg 2 clove of garlic, chopped 5 large carrots, cut into large chunks 1 acorn squash, peeled & seeded, cut into 1" cubes 3 cups of roughly chopped Swiss chard 1 cup chopped cilantro 1/3 cup whole cilantro (for garnish) 1 ½ cup Pinot Grigio or a dry white wine 3 Salt and pepper to taste

Substitutions Substitute canola oil or sunflower oil, but not olive oil, which burns at a lower temperature and will negatively affect the taste of the recipe. 2 Try elk, bison or another stewing meat for variation. 3 Beer or water can be substituted for wine. 1

Add beef, searing the meat on high until golden brown, moving frequently to prevent burning. Remove the meat from the pot and set aside. Reduce heat to medium and add leeks, onion, coriander, cumin, allspice, bay leaves, salt, pepper and nutmeg to the pot. Cook for 1 or 2 minutes or until the onions are translucent. Add wine to the pot to deglaze. Add squash, carrots, garlic, and the chopped cilantro, along with the cooked meat, to the pot. Cook for about 10 minutes. Add swiss chard and enough water to fill three-quarters of the pot, covering the ingredients completely. The meat and vegetables will cook in their own juices in the second part of the recipe.

Originally from San Cristobal de las Casas, in Chiapas, Mexico, Chef Francisco Darinel Rivera moved to Flin Flon last summer. Rivera believes strongly in the value of cooking everything from scratch, and he is always on the hunt for local ingredients, from wild rice to lilypads, to incorporate into his dishes.

from its region. The French have the well-known beef bourguignon, and in San Cristobal, our stew, called barbacoa, often features goat and tomatillo (green tomatoes).”

Rivera loves to share his passion for food; during the winter, he will be teaching cooking classes in Flin Flon through the Flin Flon Arts Council.

moisture will evaporate from the dish. If you cook the stew on a lower temperature, for longer, the stew will be juicier.”

Rivera was happy to share this rich stew recipe with Cottage North readers. “Almost every culture in the world has a stew-like dish,” explained Rivera, “and each stew features unique ingredients and flavours

In the second part of the recipe, Rivera suggests a few different methods you can use to cook the stew, depending on how much time you have available, and the equipment in your kitchen.

Part II: 1 to 5 hours Choose one method: Slow cooker: Add stew to a slow cooker. Cook for 3 – 5 hours on the medium setting. Pressure cooker: Cook the stew for 1 hour on high in a pressure cooker. Pot in oven: Use an oven-safe pot or Dutch oven for this recipe. Preheat the oven to 350 o F; cover pot, place in oven and cook for 3-4 hours. Stovetop: Continue using original pot, cover, and cook the stew on the element for 3 hours or longer on medium low, adding water as needed.

Part III Remove from heat and add salt and pepper to taste. Serve over wild rice, if desired, and garnish with remaining cilantro.

This recipe takes advantage of fresh, harvestseason vegetables that are readily available in northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan. For a more Before moving up north, Rivera studied culinary unique flavour, Rivera recommends trying elk or management at Toronto's George Brown College, and bison as an alternative to beef in this dish. went on to collaborate with a team of chefs at A gradual cooking process is key to bringing out the Marben in Toronto, under the guidance of Chef Rob flavour in this recipe. “The longer and slower the Bragagnolo. Rivera served as pastry chef there, stew cooks, the more the ingredients will caramelize responsible for creating elaborate desserts, and six and the stew will develop a richer flavour,” explains artisan breads every day for the restaurant’s menu. Rivera. “The faster the meat cooks, the more

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Rivera in his Flin Flon kitchen 45

Q&A with

William Shepherd - Libby Stoker-Lavelle -

photos courtesy sam waller museum

The mounted head of a sled dog. Drawers full of preserved basis, there are so many people who live or work only minutes insects. A two-headed stuffed calf. These are just a handful of the away who have never been to the Museum or have not been in eclectic treasures on display at the Sam Waller Museum. decades. This unique museum in The Pas sprouted from the efforts of CN: What are a few of your favourite pieces in the Sam Sam Waller, a local collector, teacher, taxidermist and naturalist. In Waller collection? 1958, Waller joined two bunkhouses together to create the Little WS: I would be remiss not to mention the two-headed calf. It Northern Museum. The public response to this early museum was is probably our most famous collection item and nearly a mascot encouraging, with 5,000 names in the guest book in the first eight for the museum. Going beyond that, there are so many unique months of operation. and interesting items in the collection, parToday, Sam Waller's collection is disticularly those from Sam’s personal collecplayed in a stately brick building that was tion. once the town’s courthouse. We have the mounted head of the lead The Sam Waller Museum, now a dog from Emile St. Godard’s team from Manitoba Star Attraction, houses much of when he won the 1932 Olympics dog sled the original Little Northern Museum collecrace. While some might find it a bit odd, it tion, along with donated artifacts and a peris an interesting piece as it links to the story manent exhibit, which explores the history of someone from this area winning an and culture of The Pas and area. The museOlympic event. Story has it that when St. um hosts workshops, children’s programGodard’s lead dog passed away he was so ming, concerts, and temporary exhibits. upset that he was unable to race anymore While the Sam Waller Museum might be and had the head mounted in memory. old news to residents of The Pas, it truly is “a The Franklin Sundial is another great gem” according to William Shepherd, curapiece of history. Franklin led two overland tor and archivist at the museum. expeditions in search of the Northwest Shepherd, an Ontario export, honed Passage, each of which brought him through his curation and conservation skills at the what is now The Pas, once in 1819 and again National Gallery of Ireland, the Canadian in 1825. This small “island of civilization” Air & Space Museum, and the Archives of amid the wilderness impressed Franklin. Ontario before moving to The Pas. Here, Later, in the mid-1840s, he and his wife sent Shepherd shares his insights on what it’s the sundial as a gift to the Church of England Two-headed calf on display at the like to work inside a unique northern treaMission at the site. It was later was donated Sam Waller Museum. sure. to our museum. CN: What do most people not know about the museum? CN: How did you come to be the museum curator and WS: That Sam Waller’s ghost still haunts the building! I jest; archivist at Sam Waller? fortunately or unfortunately there have never been any accounts of WS: Many people ask what brought me all the way to The Pas, Sam’s ghost wandering the exhibits. and my answer is the same as countless before me: opportunity. Honestly, I would have to say what a gem the museum is. There are so many opportunities here, and working at the Sam While there are many people that enjoy the museum on a regular Waller Museum is an excellent one. 46

November - December • cottage north magazine

buffalo • fish & meats

CN: What does a museum curator do? WS: In a nutshell, I care for and interpret the museum’s collection for the benefit of the public. This may be three-dimensional items or operating records from the Town of The Pas. gift baskets filled While there are many things that are required to keep all the & wrapped to order plates spinning, the biggest parts of my position can be noted as donations, preventative conservation, conservation, exhibits, public requests, and education. CN: What is preventative conservation? WS: Preventative conservation is one of the most important parts of my position. This involves staying on top of the condibulk nuts rice grains tea & more tion of thecandy collection and any factors that may degrade the condition of the collection unnecessarily. Unfortunately nothing GLUTEN FREE • CAKE DECORATING SUPPLIES • WINE & BEER MAKING will last forever, but there are certain things I can do to prolong BULK ITEMS ANGUS BEEF This includes monitoring the life of the itemsAAA in our collection. • nuts, rice, grains, • buffalo for pests, keeping temperature • fish & meatsand humidity at appropriate levcandy & more! els, mitigating UV and light damage to items on display, reducORGANIC BRANDS GIFT BASKETS ing exposure to unnecessary volatile organic chemicals, selecting • sauces, jams, • filled & wrapped to proper storage materials and conditions, as well as a variety of syrups order! • tea, coffee, hot other things. SUSHI chocolate While I try to prevent or at least reduce deterioration of HORS D’OEUVRES KITCHENWARE items, inevitably Wine making kits for an the holidays item needs attention or items may enter BULK & SPECIALTY GOURMET the collection need135 Main St, Flin Flon ph 204.687.6072 ing attention. This rrussell@mymts.net fx 204.687.5246 is where conservation comes in. This differs from preventative conservation as I am actively carrying out a task following some form of damage or deterioration rather Franklin sundial than trying to prevent the damage or deterioration. This should not be confused with restoration, which is to make something like new, a practice not carried out at the museum. The museum doesn’t have a conservation lab, so many large or involved treatments are out, but I am able to perform smaller tasks that aid in the display or longevity of collection items. CN: What are your plans and hopes for the Museum, going into the future? WS: The biggest thing the museum is looking into at the moment is an expansion of our storage and display spaces. We are lucky to have so many donors thinking of the museum, but this has led to us quickly running out of space to properly store and display all the great items we are acquiring! On a smaller scale, we are looking to create educational kits that can be used locally and beyond to teach children about the history of the area and the major themes of Northern Manitoba. We have also just begun a project to digitise our audiovisual collection. I am also starting to think about a partial or full overhaul of our permanent exhibits, either as an independent project or as part of an expansion but that is very much in the early stages. •

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everyone

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Kitchenware Wine Making Kits Cake Decorating Supplies

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photos courtesy sam waller museum

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135 Main St, Flin Flon rrussell@mymts.net

ph 204.687.6072 fx 204.687.5246

Greetings to

Cottage North readers

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The Manitoba government is proud to support the continuing growth and development of this majestic region.

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From head to toe, Newest Wrinkle has you covered in style! Huge selection of stylish fashions for every day or that special occasion. We carry XS-XXL Top it off with the perfect jewelry, purse and footwear! Fall & Winter Coats We carry Yoga Jeans, Parasuco Jeans and FDJ ! Monday - Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 47

Festival of Trees Creighton’s Festival of Trees, a unique holiday auction and craft sale, will take place on November 28 and 29 this year. Come out to this community event to have a great time while supporting an important charity, and Take home unique Christmas decorations

Local organizations, businesses, and individuals volunteer their time to decorate trees and wreaths, and create centrepieces for the annual Festival of Trees auction. These beautiful decorations are displayed on Friday and Saturday for visitors to view, turning the Creighton gym into a glittering winter wonderland. Throughout the two-day event, you can bid on your favourite spectacular display decorations through eaths and centerpieces!a silent auction. If you keep up on your bids, you’ll take home a unique, lovingly decorated tree, wreath or centerpiece. unity School Gym It’s a great way to simplify your holiday tasks!

m • November 30 9 am - 4 pm Vote for your favourite tree

BusinessOn Show, Penny Parade Friday afternoon, a panel of judges will select several award r Bells Grad Tea, Awards for Entries

llection for CADAC) Drop in and see our ids & Lord’s Bounty Food Bank

spectacular display of ne Nov 13th), volunteer, decorated trees, wreaths, for the craft sale! and centerpieces, ) 688-8291 & take one home for yourself! several charities and projects

taking care of that holiday to-do list!

winners, granting a Best in Show trophy, and ribbons in four categories to the entries. Visitors to the festival can also vote for their favourite tree in the People’s Choice and Best in Show categories. Celebrate the season with crafts, dainties, and breakfast with Santa The Festival of Trees auction is an important fundraiser for CADAC, a local non-profit that leads education initiatives and provides counselling services to individuals struggling with addiction. A number of other local charities will also organize activities at the festival. On Saturday, Creighton School will organize a pancake breakfast with Santa for kids. Parents can bring their own cameras to this event, and there will also be a volunteer photographer snapping photos. In the afternoon, the Creighton School graduating class will host the Silver Bells Tea, a grad fundraiser. Throughout the festival, visitors can take a moment to honour loved ones, and light a bulb in their honour, at the Memorial Tree. Donations to the Memorial Tree will go to the Canadian Cancer Society. Residents can also share in the spirit of giving by dropping off winterwear for Koats for Kids or non-perishable food for The Lord’s Bounty Food Bank. Other highlights of the festival will include a Christmas Craft and Business Show and a Penny Parade. Advertising Feature

Festival of Trees “The Sounds of Christmas” November 28 6pm – 9:30 pm November 29, 9 am- 4pm Creighton Community School Gym Friday & Saturday: Craft and Business Show - Penny Parade Saturday: Breakfast with Santa - Silver Bells Grad Tea - Awards Ceremony for entries

FREE

ENTRY! (silver collection for CADAC)

Drop-off point for Koats for Kids & Lord’s Bounty Food Bank

To enter a tree, wreath or centerpiece (deadline is November 12), or to volunteer, please call (306) 688-8291 48

The Festival of Trees supports several local charities and projects

November - December • cottage north magazine