Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, August 23, 2024
Friday, March 16, 2018
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Volume 64 • Issue 31
READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS: What are your favourite places in Thompson? Flip to page 7 for the ballot.
Thompson Junior Soccer Association hosts successful tournament
Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill Photos by Noah Cooke
Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. BY IAN GRAHAM
to write things that you have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing to figure out. It’s pretty clear I have all these stories and to do but I jumped at it. I Though she’s now written when I get through.” I need to capture them for thought that was exciting a book about her experienDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed and ces growing up in Churchill, her book, titled Whispers in because they will be lost if they started throwing the Addictions Foundation of the Wind: Stories from the I don’t.” fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy Manitoba northern director North - Life in Churchill for She also has a reputation cats, I was probably sitting Gisele deMeulles said writ- a couple of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” ing wasn’t something she “I just sort of thought, “I had such a varied hisAnother thing that always thought she would you know what, this his- tory and I would tell people spurred her on was the do. tory, this stuff that’s in my stories and they would go, hard times facing Churchill “In my youth I plary never sportsmanship, head, it’s going to congratulating be gone ‘That’s not true, opponents is it?’ I’d go, since the Hudson Bay Railtheir BY NOAH COOKE felt good at writing,” sheaccepting if I don’t write it down,” it’s true.’ They’d go, way suspended operations THOMPSON CITIZEN PUBLISHER and their silversheand‘Yeah bronze medals said. “But when I moved said. “My kids are not go- ‘You didn’t do all that, did north of Gillam last spring. The Thompson Junior Soccer Association (TJSA)to getwith Nuno for the to Thompson into grace. you? You’ve got to be really “It used to be a really ing to get it if IPereira, don’t do itcoach the school of social Dragons, work, and praised it’s something I’ve al- dedication, old.’ I was like, ‘No, actually thriving large community Championship games that were held on Saturday, Auhis team’s at that point I had tosaying, write ways wanted my mom to about I did allhow that before I was and it’s just dwindled down gust 17, lived up to the hype, running both U12 and U18 “I can’t speak enough for university and realized, do. My mom’s an elder and 27,’ and they went ‘What?’” to such a small population championship games. good you guys are. After such a great ‘Holy, I’m not bad at this, she’s an artist, she’s got so Looking back, some of now,” deMeulles says. right?’ stories be- those experiences are things Though she’s not there Being held at the Burntwood soccer field, theI certainly eventdeveloped game, many you wonderful all did great!” a lot of skill in university cause she she mightSocnot do again. any longer, her parents and attracted a crowd of enthusiastic spectators who were The future isalways brighttells forher Thompson and came out of there with stories at Parks Canada in “I did some pretty bizarre her sister and other family treated to a memorable conclusion to the aseason. The cermyas TJSA continues to strive forlikegrowth very strong skill in Churchill and I’ve always stuff fuel hauls into the members still are. writing andseaconfidence hounded her, ‘Please, just high Arctic at -35,” said “My cousin owns the championship matches featured the top teams of the andinmore opportunities, aspiring to grow my writing. I writethe verysport put itnot on tape, will Thompson, write it deMeulles. “It didn’t dawn hardware store there,” she son, with U12 having the Junior Eagles, Junior Dragons, justI in but across clear and that’s it. It’s there. for you because your story on me until after. That was a says. Junior Scorpions, and Junior Lions, and U18 having theit’s kind theofnorth, totohave travel and even Some people say is going be lost,’aand she’s team, very dangerous thing to do. Because of that, bluntDragons. or direct. I don’tone tendday, never it and field I thought, Beingyear-round on a plane full of fuel deMeulles finds it hard to Screaming Eagles, Battle Lions, and Super andone indoor to offer EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
Both the Junior Dragons and Super Dragons took home the gold. During the gold medal games, it was clear from the kickoff that both teams were determined to make a statement. Having close games throughout, the mentality was strong through all teams as they played their best. The passion from the coaches was also on display as they managed their teams and coached from the sidelines. As the final whistle rang to close out the last game of the day, it was met with a roar of cheers from the Super Dragons as the team celebrated their hard-fought victory. Though disappointed, the other teams displayed exem-
soccer. Pereira goes on to say, “We want to make sure they are not overlooked, that they get the same opportunity that someone who lives in Toronto or Vancouver gets, that’s my big goal.” Coach Pereira also made a point to thank the TJSA board, the coaches, volunteers, and referees, along with a big thank you to their sponsor McDonald’s. “None of this would have been possible without our great sponsor McDonald’s.” Continuing to say how wonderful McDonald’s has been throughout this year and the last. McDonald’s involvement has had a positive impact on
“Gravel on your lawn? Gotta be gone.”
Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham
For all the harsh weather swallow when people say that Churchill residents and the dangers of polar should just find somewhere bears, deMeulles said if it easier to live. had been viable she would “To say, ‘Those people have moved back to Churchchoose to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. should just leave,’ is quite “I miss the shoreline, I simplistic. It’s quite disre- miss the rock, I miss the spectful. If we were in the polar bears even though same boat in another area they’re very dangerous and I think we would scream I really miss the Hudson about that sothe why community. don’t they Bay,”The she says. “When I go sponsorship have the option do that? TJSA back home, standing on the hastohelped expand its reach I think right now they’re Hudson Bay looking out on and offer opportunities feeling like they’re pawnsmore the bay, it just gives youfor an in a political gameyoung and that’splayers incredible You feel so tosense. participate really sad for themin because I small and you feel great.” soccer. think the people of ChurchNow that she’s got Pereira also book recognized under her belt, ill really want to thrive. one They’ve built their worlds deMeulles says she may try NCN players, emphasizing that there. How would we feel to produce another. welNelson House is always if someone came to you and “I have another book in come. “Iftoyou don’t have enough said, ‘I’m sorry, you have me,” she says. “It’s a darker leave your homefor community story, morewe about personyour own team, will imand we’re goingplement to displace you al growth struggles. in ourand teams. We you somewhere else and all Maybe in the next five years want many kids as possible,” your loved ones and as your it’s something I’ll focus on history is gone?’” Pereira says.doing.” “We want them to
know they are always welcome. We want them all to come, doesn’t matter what age.” To wrap everything up, there was a medal ceremony along with the winning teams lifting up their firstplace trophy in celebration, having the Dragons’ name engraved as the first name on the TJSA Plaque. This will serve as a wonderful reminder of what the kids have accomplished for years to come.
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