Nickel Belt News Volume Volume 58 58 Number • Issue 4811
Friday, March 16, Friday, November 30,2018 2018
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Churchill anpreserve early Christmas as first Book a getting way to andgift pass on passenger train 18 months due Dec. 4 memories ofingrowing up to inarrive Churchill BY KYLE DARBYSON
KYLE@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
When it comes to rail service, Churchill residents are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel in the form of a passenger train set to arrive Dec. 4 after a twoday trip from Winnipeg. This will mark the first time that a Via Rail train has pulled into Churchill since May 2017, when severe flooding washed away multiple sections of the Hudson Bay Railway (HBR). Since the rail line is the only land link out of Churchill, Mayor Mike Spence said this is an important development for residents, especially with Christmas right around the corner. “With the holiday season approaching, it is great news to have passenger service back, connecting family members in our northern communities,” Spence said in a Nov. 26 press release. “With the strong support of Nickel Belt News photo courtesy of Arctic Gateway the federal government The first Via Rail passenger train to Churchill since May 2017 is expected to arrive Dec. 4 after a two-day journey from Winnipeg. we are now focused on ensuring the investments hisNews company Gateway Group, during opportunities to stimulate “Churchill is the only Nickel Belt photo by is Ian happy Graham made will result in new in late August 2018. to resume providing Northern Manitoba’s rail-served, Arctic port his keynote speech at Once this deal was Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. opportunities for visitors workers began the University College economy, its new owners in North America. And an essential service for and new GRAHAM opportunities for finalized, BY IAN For all the harsh weather to write things that railway you have of ‘Oh, I’mNorth’s just as bad, right?’ say. was not a very safe thing today swallow people the Linkages 20when per cent of say the northern residents. repairs on the economic development.” to figure out. It’s EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET I have all these stories and pretty clear Conference to do but I jumped at it. I that Churchill residents and the dangers of polar in The Pas Combined with the Port GDP of Russia goes “The restoration of almost immediately, With federal Though she’sgovernment now written when I get through.” I need to capture them for thought that was exciting should just find somewhere bears, deMeulles said if it of Churchill, which was Nov. 7. “Kids stopped through their Arctic service will enable leading to the ceremonial financial assistance, the a book about her experienDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. had been viable she would or they treating andlost ranif also by Arctic he said. “Part of Via continue to oftitled rail Whispers service to ces growing up in Churchill, her book, in trick because will be they acquired started throwing the ports,” “To say, ‘Those people have Rail movedtoback to Churchbig player responsible for return to see the train, so that Gateway in their deal with the economic future of honour its commitment Churchill on Oct. 31. 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. restoring railFoundation service is the Al-Katidsitting said our country could actually communities, “It was incredible Manitoba northern director - Lifean in Churchill for tells Sheyou alsohow has aimportant reputation OmniTrax, cats, I was probably should just leave,’ is quite to “Iremote miss the shoreline, I Arctic Gateway Group, a North that is to the people of that the infrastructure is be tied to the success that and enable in Gisele deMeulles said writa couple of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disremiss the rock, Ithose miss the night of Halloween consortium of businesses, ing wasn’t something she when “I just sort of thought, “I had such a varied his- now Another thing that the spectful. If we were inhave the Northern polar bearsManitoba even though Churchill.” in place to help turn communities can to the train whistle northern communities and always thought she would blew,” you know what, this history and freight I would tell people Northern spurred her on was into the in same boat in another area hopefully they’re very dangerous and With services Manitoba this initiative.” return to a said Murad AlFirst do. Nations that took Katid, tory, this stuff that’s in my having hard times facing Churchill I think we president would scream I really normal miss the life Hudson stories and they would go, a vital source of shipping Via Rail Yves resumed as of more by president of AGT over from head, it’s going to be 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 “In the my railway youth I never Foods and Ingredients Nov. 24, the railway is for not just the province, Desjardins-Siciliano said being better connected,” former owner OmniTrax felt good at writing,” she if 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 in a press release that he said. member of the Arctic also opening up new but all of Canada. said. “But when I moved and said. “My kids are not go- ‘You didn’t do all that, did north of Gillam last spring. I think right now they’re Hudson Bay looking out on to Thompson to get into the school of social work, at that point I had to write for university and realized, ‘Holy, I’m not bad at this, right?’ I certainly developed a lot of skill in university and came out of there with a very strong skill in my writing and confidence in my writing. I write very clear and that’s it. It’s there. Some people say it’s kind of blunt or direct. I don’t tend
ing to get 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 and it’s 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 ways wanted my mom to I did all that before I was and it’s just dwindled down really sad for them because I small and you feel great.” do. My mom’s an elder and 27,’ and they went ‘What?’” to such a small population think the people of ChurchNow that she’s got she’s an artist, she’s got so Looking back, some of now,” deMeulles says. ill really want to thrive. one book under her belt, many wonderful stories be- those experiences are things Though she’s not there They’ve built their worlds deMeulles says she may try cause she always tells her she might not do again. any longer, her parents and there. How would we feel to produce another. stories at Parks Canada in “I did some pretty bizarre her sister and other family if someone came to you and “ITAKOUT, have another book in DELIVERY, DINE-IN 12” 14” Churchill and I’ve always 10” stuff like fuel hauls into the members still are. said, ‘I’m16” sorry, you have to me,” she says. “It’s a darker hounded her, ‘Please, just high Arctic at -35,” said “My cousin owns the leave your home community story, more about personTOPPINGS put it on tape, I will write it deMeulles. “It didn’t dawn hardware store there,” she and we’re going to displace al growth and struggles. Pepperoni, Ham, Salami, Meat,That Italian Bacon, Beef, BBQ Chicken, Tandoori Chicken else and all Maybe in the next five years for you because your story on meDonair until after. wasSausage, a says. you somewhere 1 PUBLIC ROAD Mushrooms, Onions, Green Peppers, Cooked Tomatoes, Fresh Tomatoes, Pineapple, is going to be lost,’ and she’s very dangerous thing to do. Because of that, your loved ones and your OPEN it’s something UNTIL 11 PMI’ll focus on GreenBeing Olives,on Jalapeno Hot Peppers, Fetafinds Cheese (1 AM FRI-SAT, never done itBlack and Olives, I thought, a planePeppers, full of fuel deMeulles it hard to history is gone?’” doing.”12 AM SUNDAY)
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