Nickel Belt News Volume Volume 58 59 Number • Issue 1911
Friday, 16, 2018 Friday,March May 10, 2019
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Grand Rapids girls who rescued a five-year-old from on the Book a way to preserve and pass Saskatchewan River receive commendations in Winnipeg memories of growing up in Churchill
From left to right, Jaylynn Chartier, Phoenix Chartier and Eden Rose Walker were recognized with Lifesaving Society Rescue Commendations and met Manitoba Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham (back row, left) April 30 for their actions in July 2018 when they saved a five-year-old girl from drowning in the Saskatchewan River in Grand Rapids. Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. Three young girls from Grand Rap- Chartier, Phoenix Chartier and Eden ids who younger Rose arealldeserving recogBY IAN GRAHAM For the harshofweather to write things that you have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safesaved thingan even swallow whengirl people sayWalker drowning recognized withresidents nition,” said Lifesaving EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET to figure out. It’s pretty clear I have all these stories and to do but I from jumped at it. Iwere that Churchill andthe the dangers Society. of polar Rescue from the LifeThe girls havedeMeulles been recognized Though she’s now written when I get through.” I need to capture them for thought that was Commendations exciting should just find somewhere bears, said iffor it saving Society met Manitoba before, receiving Red a book about her experienDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed andandeasier to live. Lt- their heroism had been viable she would Janice the Filmon during an ‘Those April people Cross rescuer in November. ces growing up in Churchill, her book, titled Whispers in because they will be lost if they startedGov. throwing “To say, haveawards moved back to Churchceremony at Government House “They showed very good judgment Addictions Foundation of the Wind: Stories from the I don’t.” fuel off and 30 I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. in Winnipeg. the way that they responded,” RedI Manitoba northern director North - Life in Churchill for She also has a reputation cats, I was probably sitting should just leave,’ isinquite “I miss the shoreline, Chartier, safety Gisele deMeulles said writ- a couple of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” Eight-year-old Jaylynn simplistic. It’s quite Cross disre- swimming miss the and rock,water I miss the Chartier Manitoba, ing wasn’t something she “I just sort of thought, “I had such a varied hisAnothernine-year-old thing thatPhoenix spectful. If weand were representative in the polarfor bears even northern though 11-year-old Eden Rose Nunavut Brown said always thought she would you know what, this his- tory and I would tell people spurred her on was the sameWalker boat inwere anotherOntario area and they’re veryChris dangerous and out skipping rocksI on the Saskatchat that time. do. tory, this stuff that’s in my stories and they would go, hard times facing Churchill think we would scream I really miss the Hudson ewan River in July 2018 when sawdon’t they “All of Bay,” today’sshe honorees have dem“In my youth I never head, it’s going to be gone ‘That’s not true, is it?’ I’d go, since the Hudson about thatthey so why says. “When I go Bay Raila five-year-old floating in the moststanding powerfulonway felt good at writing,” she if I don’t write it down,” she ‘Yeah it’s true.’ They’d go, way suspended thefacedown option to doonstrated that? back home, the operationsgirl have in the One Iofthink the girls their commitment to others,” said. “But when I moved said. “My kids are not go- ‘You didn’t do all that, did north of Gillam lastwater. spring. rightmannow they’re Hudson Bay lookingsaid out the on five-year-old and pawns lieutenant-governor in a gives speechyou at the to Thompson to get into ing to get it if I don’t do it you? You’ve got to be really “It used aged to betoarescue reallythefeeling like they’re the bay, it just an the others found anin adult to go call anandceremony. “If the old saying true the school of social work, and it’s something I’ve al- old.’ I was like, ‘No, actually thriving large community a political game that’s incredible sense. You is feel so While waiting forfor medical that ‘actions speak thangreat.” words’ at that point I had to write ways wanted my mom to I did all that before I was and it’s just ambulance. dwindled down really sad them because I small andlouder you feel personnel, two of the girlsthe performed these are people haveshe’s turned got the for university and realized, do. My mom’s an elder and 27,’ and they went ‘What?’” to such a small population think people of ChurchNowwho that CPR on the five-year-old, wasto thrive. volume upone to 11. Today’s recipients of ‘Holy, I’m not bad at this, she’s an artist, she’s got so says. book under her belt, Looking back, some of now,” deMeulles ill reallywho want neithernot conscious breathing, rescue awards are asays cross-section of right?’ I certainly developed many wonderful stories be- those experiences are things Though she’s there nor They’ve builtusing their worlds deMeulles she may try techniques seen How in a movie. Manitoba. were children when a lot of skill in university cause she always tells her she might not do again. any longer, her parentsthey and hadthere. would we feel toSome produce another. Theother girl who had been in the river wasto you they acted to“Isave life. Others were and came out of there with stories at Parks Canada in “I did some pretty bizarre her sister and family if someone came and havea another book in then health adults. acted winter and others a very strong skill in my Churchill and I’ve always stuff like fuel hauls into the members still said, ‘I’m sorry, you have to Some me,” she in says. “It’s a darker are.taken to the community centreowns for further attention. in summer. Theymore comeabout from north and writing and confidence in hounded her, ‘Please, just high Arctic at -35,” said “My cousin the medical leave your home community story, personBelt News photo courtesy the Lifesaving Society store She survived and made full recovery. south, cityalandgrowth country.and Whatstruggles. they have my writing. I write very put it on tape, Nickel I will write it deMeulles. “It of didn’t dawn hardware there,” she andawe’re going to displace Threeand girlsthat’s fromit. Grand Rapids who saved a five-year-old fromon theme Saskatchewan River among “For their quick thinking and bravin common is thatin when another clear It’s there. for you because your story until after. That waswere a says. you somewhere else and all Maybe the next fiveperson years severalpeople Manitobans honoured forgoing heroism theand Lifesaving Society during an April in undertaking a rescue they answered the call Some say it’s kind of is to beby lost,’ she’s very dangerous thing to 30 do.ceremony Becauseery of that, your loveddespite ones andneeded your them, it’s something I’ll focus on formal training, a life.” blunt I don’t House tend innever done by it and I thought, Being on a plane full of fuel deMeulles fihaving nds it no hard to history is Jaylynn gone?’” and saveddoing.” hostedoratdirect. Government Winnipeg Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon.