Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, March 16, 2018
Thompson, Manitoba
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Volume 64 • Issue 15
The magic has only just begun Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill
Thompson Citizen photos by Matthias J. Johnson the last few weeks as Sean her more dangerous tricks their words and speaking magical expertise, Sean was a remarkable feat of and Chanelle plan to do a in the teaser while saving kindness. Watson's legacy began magic, leaving the audifull-scale show, possibly the best for the coming Sean echoed Chanelle's right here in Thompson ence in awe and wonder. Two world-renowned as soon as May. grand performance. words and then began Manitoba, and since has The fact that they also Vegas magicians; Sean The highly acclaimed Motivational Magic to talk more about what been featured at some of teach workshops and Belt News photo by Ian Graham Watson and Chanelle teaser was not only cap- Camp is an empowering they would offer as a mega the biggest events andNickel ca- provide opportunities for Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. Munroe recently gave tivating but they gave out workshop where Sean and show and illusionist per- sinos in the world, includ- youth is a testament to Thompson a glimpse of magic props that andyou taught teach to formance. passion is ing MGMwhen Grand, Mandapassion for weather the art BY IAN GRAHAM For all the harsh to write things have Chanelle ‘Oh, I’m just as kids bad, how right?’ was not a "Our very safe thing swallow people say their their illusionist performdo magic of their own as definitely in youth” Sean lay Bay Casino, and the illusions to those who of magic. Whether it's EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET to figure out. 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 ance. They held a written teaser when participated. variety them of other stated, “Though we ob- should Las Vegas Hilton. Sean bears, through their workshops Though she’s now I get through.” Iwell needastoa capture for thought that was exciting just find somewhere deMeulles said if it show the community's "We also said do she a magic all specializing major events also appeared on TV or a bookfor about her experienDeMeulles wrote workshops my grandchildren really viously until the do plane landed and has easier to live. hadtheir beenlarge-scale viable she magic would council and leaders to excamp where we teach in bettering the individtoo. We both performed in platforms like Fox News shows, Sean andtoChanelle ces growing up in Churchill, her book, titled Whispers in because they will be lost if they started throwing the “To say, ‘Those people have moved back Churchcite their taste for more on how to do magic The duo have recent- Las Vegas 12 years so and E Talk Canada to leave a lasting Addictions Foundation of kids the Wind: Stories from and the ual. I don’t.” fuel off and for I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there.which They are ill insure a heartbeat. aManitoba much bigger scale. hand, so a lotfor of ly She been visiting different we'll hisleave,’ reach is and es- impression the com-I to bring asitting huge extended northern director sleight North - of Life in Churchill also has a reputation cats, Iwant was probably should just quite “I miss theonshoreline, With just a few tricks what we taught was pulled communities and lifting Las Vegas style show to tablished his credibility in munities they visit. Gisele deMeulles said writ- a couple of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disre- miss the rock, I miss the pulled outsomething of the hat, our sort Magic Camp," heavy anhisart Thompson. currently entertainment industry. ~Matthias J. Johnson is ing wasn’t she from “I just of thought, “I hadspirits such awith varied Another So thing that the spectful. If we were in the polar bears even though their showmanship made said Chanelle as spurred we're touring Theboat dateinofanother the upcomLocalvery Journalism Initiaalways thought she would you know what, Munroe, this his- therapy tory and course, I would as tellwell people her on our wasilluthe same area a they’re dangerous and us is the world's basketball camp, singing show to different magic yet to tive reporter whoHudson works do. all scratch our heads, who tory, this stuff that’s inonly my astories hard times facing Churchill ing I think we show wouldisscream I really miss the and they would go, sionist giving the highest qualprofessional female Métis workshop teaching kids communities giving our be confirmed, but we all out of the Thompson “In my youth I never 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 CitI go ity of stage magician. Sheit specializes large-scale show as well have awaitthe it with anticipation. izen. home, The Local Journalism primarily howThey’d to propfelt good at presence writing,” and she if I don’t write down,” she ‘Yeah it’s true.’ go, way option to do that? back standing on the suspended operations sleight“But of hand. dangerous express ourofworkshops." and Chanelle's per- Initiative is looking funded out by the said. whenAnticipaI moved in ‘You didn’t do themselves all that, did as said. “My kids magic are not and go- erly north Gillam last spring. Sean I think right now they’re Hudson Bay on tion has been building up was able to present some of and show the power of With over 30 years of formance in Thompson Government of Canada. to Thompson to get into 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 BY MATTHIAS J. JOHNSON LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER, THOMPSON CITIZEN
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
and it’s something I’ve always wanted my mom to do. My mom’s an elder and she’s an artist, she’s got so many wonderful stories because she always tells her stories at Parks Canada in Churchill and I’ve always hounded her, ‘Please, just put it on tape, I will write it for you because your story is going to be lost,’ and she’s never done it and I thought,
old.’ I was like, ‘No, actually I did all that before I was 27,’ and they went ‘What?’” Looking back, some of those experiences are things she might not do again. “I did some pretty bizarre stuff like fuel hauls into the high Arctic at -35,” said deMeulles. “It didn’t dawn on me until after. That was a very dangerous thing to do. Being on a plane full of fuel
“Gravel on your lawn? Gotta be gone.”
thriving large community in a political game and that’s incredible sense. You feel so and it’s just dwindled down really sad for them because I small and you feel great.” to such •a POWER small population think• the peopleMOWING of Church- • AERATION Now that• she’s got SWEEPING LAWN now,” deMeulles says. ill really want to thrive. one book under her belt, • DETHATCHING • LANDSCAPE DRAINAGE • says she may try Though she’s not there They’ve built their worlds deMeulles any longer, her parents and there. How would we feel to produce another. • LICENSED FERTILIZER AND WEED CONTROL SERVICES • her sister and other family if someone came to you and “I have another book in • FAMILY OPERATED • NPRUDER@LIVE.CA said, ‘I’m sorry, you have to me,” she says.•“It’s a darker members still are. OWNED & “My cousin owns the leave your home community story, more about personhardware store there,” she and we’re going to displace al growth and struggles. says. you somewhere else and all Maybe in the next five years Because of that, your loved ones and your it’s something I’ll focus on deMeulles finds it hard to history is gone?’” doing.”
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