May 31 2019

Page 1

Nickel Belt News Volume Volume 58 59 Number • Issue 2211

Friday, 16, 2018 Friday,March May 31, 2019

Thompson, Manitoba Thompson, Manitoba

Servingthe theNorman Norman Region 1961 Serving Regionsince since 1961

Providing you with expert advice & friendly service. Book online at speedyglass.ca or try our free app on your iPhone

We look forward to serving you. Ϳͷ-A Kelsey Bay Thompson, MB R;N ͷS͹ Ph: ͸Ͷͺ-ͽͽ;-ͽͶͺ; Fax: ͸Ͷͺ-ͽͽ;-ͽͷ͸ͺ

Three-week deployment a Book a way to preserve and pass on first for Red Cross volunteer memories of growing up in Churchill

BY IAN GRAHAM

EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

Red Cross volunteers Mark Szyszlo and Luoise Hodder of Thompson have been deployed to help people affected by flooding and forest fires before, but their latest deployment to Ottawa was a little bit different for a couple of reasons. For one, Szyszlo grew up in Ottawa before moving to Thompson in the mid-1980s, so his knowledge of the local geography served him well in his role the field operations team lead. “I’ve been working in an area called logistics, kind of like a glorified delivery guy,” said Szyszlo May 28 from Ottawa. “I was actually based downtown so I was at the Red Cross headquarters, the national headquarters. I actually spent most of my day either in the office or driving around delivering stuff. At one point we had six different sites across eastern Ontario ranging all the way from the Ottawa area, east of Ottawa, all the way up to the Ren-

frew-Pembroke area, Petawawa where the army base is. All those areas were hit quite hard by the flooding.” Within a few days of beginning his deployment, Szyszlo said his mental map of Ottawa from a few decades ago was back inside his brain. “It was actually like second nature actually after a couple of days,” he said. “If you come back to a place that you know, you just have to find a place in your brain where you can find that map of how to get around.” Hodder was the site manager of a reception centre in Constance Bay, about 45 minutes outside of Ottawa, which had already been flooded in 2017 and then had a tornado hit last year. “It’s kind of biblical for a lot of people, they’re really frazzled and strained,” Szyszlo says. “It’s been a real difficult ordeal for a lot of people there and that’s what we do at Red Cross, we sort of help vulnerable people because through no fault of their own they find themselves dis-

placed. They’ve got nowhere to go. They can’t be in their homes because there’s a flood and so they’re forced to live with neighbours they get put up in a hotel. We try to find some kind of accommodation for them to get on with their lives.” A major part of Hodder’s job was to distribute up to $600 in federal disaster assistance relief to people affected by the flooding, which was unlike anything anyone has seen in their lifetime on the Ottawa River. “She was actually in charge of the management of that, which involved either direct deposits into accounts or they would issue payment cards like a gift card,” said Szyszlo, who was on a plane to Ottawa within12 hours of getting called with the assignment and spent three weeks volunteering. “I’ve actually maxed out the time,” he said. “I’ve never done a three-week deployment. Three weeks is the maximum time they’ll allow you to be out on a mission

Nickel Belt News photo courtesy of Mark Szyszlo Red Cross volunteers Louise Hodder and Mark Szyszlo of Thompson were recently deployed to Ottawa to hlep provide disaster relief following spring flooding. or out on deployment just because they … don’t want people to burn out. A lot of people have a hard time, they

empathize so much and they give so much of themselves and they have a difficult time. They often burn out because

of that kind of exposure having to help people all the time.”

Pimicikamak Cree Nation members training for Hudbay mining jobs in Snow Lake

A dozen members of This training also supports Pimicikamak Cree Nation a key priority of Manitoba’s Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham (PCN) at Cross Lake areofbeEconomic Growth Action Addictions Foundation Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. ing trained for mining sec- Plan in ensuring we have the BY IAN at GRAHAM For all the harsh weather write things that you have tor jobs Hudbay’s Snow to right skills, knowledge and ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow when people say EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET figure It’s pretty clear I have all these stories and to do but I jumped at it. I that Churchill residents and the dangers of polar Lake operations through to talent to out. support a thriving Though she’sbetween now written I get through.” I need to capture them for thought that was exciting should just find somewhere bears, deMeulles said if it a partnership the when economy.” a book about experienDeMeulles shefill wrote had been viable she would company, theherprovincial “Our goalsaid is to the my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. ces growing up in Churchill, Whispers in because they will be lost if they started throwing the “To say, ‘Those people have moved back to Churchgovernment, PCN, Univer- her jobsbook, at ourtitled operations with Addictions of the Wind: Stories from the I don’t.” fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. sity CollegeFoundation of the North people from our northern Manitoba northern director North - Life inand Churchill for She also has a reputation cats, I was probably sitting should just leave,’ is quite “I miss the shoreline, I (UCN) and the Northern communities this hirGisele deMeulles writ- a couple of reasons. on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disre- miss the rock, I miss the Manitoba Sector said council. ing program is a great first as a storyteller herself. ingThe wasn’t something “I in just sort ofthis thought, “I had such a varied hisAnother thing that spectful. If we were in the polar bears even though training beganshe in step achieving goal,” always would you know what, thisvicehis- tory and I would tell people spurred her on was the same boat in another area they’re very dangerous and Februarythought and willshe conclude said Robert Assabgui, do. this stuff in my stories and they would go, hard times facing Churchill I think we would scream I really miss the Hudson in November. The provin- tory, president of that’s Hudbay’s “In my youthis Iprovidnever head, it’s going to be unit. gone ‘That’s not true, is it?’ I’d go, since the Hudson Bay Rail- about that so why don’t they Bay,” she says. “When I go cial government Manitoba business felt good at in writing,” I don’t write it down,” she ‘Yeah it’s true.’ They’d go, way suspended operations have the option to do that? back home, standing on the ing $87,000 fundingshe for if “We look forward to welsaid. “But when moved said. “My are employnot go- ‘You didn’t do all that, did north of Gillam last spring. I think right now they’re Hudson Bay looking out on the training, with IHudbay coming ourkids 12 new to to get into to getPimicikamak.” it if I don’t do it you? You’ve got to be really “It used to be a really feeling like they’re pawns the bay, it just gives you an andThompson PCN contributing in- ing ees from the of social work, and it’scurriculum, something I’ve al- old.’ I was like, ‘No, actually thriving large community in a political game and that’s incredible sense. You feel so kindschool support. The which at “We that are point I had to ways wanted my training mom to I did all that before I was and it’s just dwindled down really sad forNews them photo because I small and you feel great.” Nickel Belt courtesy of Government of Manitoba working in write part- includes mining for university and realized, do. MyUCN mom’s elder and they went ‘What?’”is funding to such training a small for population think Cree the people Church- seenNow thatPremier she’s Brian got nership to develop the next from asan well asand on 27,’ The provincial government 12 Pimicikamak Nationofmembers, here with ‘Holy, I’m not at this, she’s an artist, she’s gotand so Pallister, now,” deMeulles says. one book under her belt, Looking back, some of ill really want to thrive. generation of bad workers in the-the-job training in preparation for employment with Hudbay operations in Snow Lake after their training wraps up in November. right?’ I certainly developed wonderful stories beThough she’s not there They’ve built their worlds deMeulles says she may try mentorship with Hudbay, is those experiences are things Northern Manitoba’s re- many saysanother. the training Hudbay, thedoprovince, between industry, communexample of would how each of ment a lot ofeconomy,” skill in university she always her she might not again. any longer, her parents and there. How we feel to produce source said Pre- cause administered by thetells NorthEducation Mani- her ity and education is what the if these groups hadtoayou critical aligns with and of there at Parks Canada in Workplace “I did some pretty bizarre sister and other family someone came and program “I have also another book in miercame Brian out Pallister in a with May stories ern Manitoba Sector Countoba and ManiUCN’s Northern piece‘I’m to play in ensuring its Look North“It’s Report and a my Churchill and I’ve always likethe fuelNorthern hauls into the members sorry, you havethe to me,” she says. a darker still are.Manitoba said, 27very pressstrong release.skill “OurinLook cil in partnership with UCN stuff toba Arctic MiningatAcademy,” Academy does,” success a project that, story, Actionmore Plan for Manitoba’s writing and confi dencethe in hounded her, ‘Please, just high -35,” said Mining “My cousin owns the leave yourofhome community about personNorth strategy identifies and Workplace Education said Northern Manitoba said UCNstore associate ultimately, leadstotodisplace north- al Northern focus my I write very put it on tape, I will write it deMeulles. “It didn’t dawn hardware there,”viceshe and we’re going growthEconomy’s and struggles. needwriting. for stronger connecManitoba. Sector Council executive president of community and you ern people filling northern on partnerships clear that’slocal it. It’s there. for“This you because your story on me until after. That was a says. somewhere else and all Maybe in the next fibetween ve years tions and between industry project developed director Jamie Grant. solutions Pen- your jobs.”loved ones and your it’s Indigenous communities, Some say it’sthrough kind of is going to be lost,’ and she’s very dangerous thing to do. industry Because ofRobthat, something I’ll focus on and thepeople community key northern partnerships “Working at thefull interface ner. “This project a great The provincial government and industry. blunt or direct. I don’t tend never done it and I thought, on a plane of fuel deMeulles finds itishard to history is gone?’” govern- doing.” educational opportunities. with the Cross Lake Band, Being


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.