Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, March 16, 2018
Thompson, Manitoba
Serving the Norman Region since 1961
Friday, February 2, 2024
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Volume 64 • Issue 4
40,000 Pounds of fries donated to the community
Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill
Thompson Citizen photos by Matthias J. Johnson BY MATTHIAS J. JOHNSON The food was donated to the money to pay for the and Oswald Sawh ap- stacked pallets of food. come together and make LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE Second Harvest from Sim- travel expense. proved the travel expense Other volunteers from a a positive impact. REPORTER, THOMPSON CITIZEN plot, who reached out to all Marymound took charge and donation that the plan variety of organizations, Volunteers worked hard The community of the food banks in Thomp- of the scenario and reached could move forward. including MKO, Futures, to distribute food to those Thompson came together son, offering to give them out to a variety of people Many volunteers do- Street Reach, and Babies in need, and the donations in a remarkable display of the food to donate to others to see who would be will- nated their time includ- Best Start, came out to for transportation were generosity and kindness in Thompson if they paid ing to donate the travel ing United Rentals who help load boxes into their fruitful. Thisbydisplay of Nickel Belt News photo Ian Graham to donate Foundation 40,000 pounds expense. has It was not auntil Together, $2,000 for transportation. operated skid steers to vehicles. Addictions of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles written book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill.they community power is a of food to those in need. Unfortunately, nobody had a grant was filed to TNRC unload the numerous helped donate 10,000 shining example of what boxes of when food. people say can achieved when BY IAN GRAHAM Forbe all the harsh weather to write things that you have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow TheChurchill sheer volume of do- and people together for a 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 residents thecome dangers of polar nationsjust was sosomewhere high that bears, common goal. Those Though she’s now written when I get through.” I need to capture them for thought that was exciting should find deMeulles said who if it it blocked off Thompson had contributed to the a book about her experienDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. been viable she initiawould as many cars and have tive should feel toproud of ces growing up in Churchill, her book, titled Whispers in because they will be lost if they started throwing the Drive, “To say, ‘Those people moved back Churcheagerly to their impact. Addictions Foundation of the Wind: Stories from the I don’t.” fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy trucks choose waited to live there. They ill in apositive heartbeat. help with effort. The The people of Thomp-I Manitoba northern director North - Life in Churchill for She also has a reputation cats, I was probably sitting should justthe leave,’ is quite “I miss the shoreline, communityIt’scame son have shown remarkGisele deMeulles said writ- a couple of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. quitetogethdisre- miss the rock, I miss the in a selfless display of polar able generosity selfing wasn’t something she “I just sort of thought, “I had such a varied hisAnother thing that er spectful. If we were in the bears evenand though generosity, individlessness, us always thought she would you know what, this his- tory and I would tell people spurred her on was the same boat inwith another area they’re veryreminding dangerous and andwe businesses alike Ithat evenmiss in the darkest of do. tory, this stuff that’s in my stories and they would go, hard times facing Churchill Iuals think would scream really the Hudson offering times,she hope remains. “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 thateverything so why don’tfrom they Bay,” says. “WhenSuch I go personal vehicles to comacts of kindness prove 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 onthat the trucksnow to transport we are all inlooking this together. said. “But when I moved said. “My kids are not go- ‘You didn’t do all that, did north of Gillam last spring. Imercial think right they’re Hudson Bay out on the donations. By bay, working 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 it justtogether, gives youwe an truegame giving overcome any obstacle the school of social work, and it’s something I’ve al- old.’ I was like, ‘No, actually thriving large community in The a political and heart that’s can incredible sense. You feel so of Thompson wasbecause on fullI small and create a brighter fuat that point I had to write ways wanted my mom to I did all that before I was and it’s just dwindled down really sad for them and you feel great.” display, as people came ture for ourselves and got our for university and realized, 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 out of thewant woodwork to one communities. ‘Holy, I’m not bad at this, she’s an artist, she’s got so book under her belt, Looking back, some of now,” deMeulles says. ill really to thrive. lend a hand any way deMeulles ~Matthias J. she Johnson is right?’ I certainly developed many wonderful stories be- those experiences are things Though she’s not there They’ve built in their worlds says may try they could. Thiswecoma Local Journalism a lot of skill in university cause she always tells her she might not do again. any longer, her parents and there. How would feel to produce another. Initiamunity-wide a tive reporter whobook works and came out of there with stories at Parks Canada in “I did some pretty bizarre her sister and other family if someone cameeffort to youis and “I have another in testament to the out ofshe the Thompson Cita very strong skill in my Churchill and I’ve always stuff like fuel hauls into the members still are. said, ‘I’m sorry, youstrength have to me,” says. “It’s a darker of the Thompson com- story, izen. The Local Journalism writing and confidence in hounded her, ‘Please, just high Arctic at -35,” said “My cousin owns the leave your home community more about personmunity and serves as an al Initiative funded by the my writing. I write very put it on tape, I will write it deMeulles. “It didn’t dawn hardware store there,” she and we’re going to displace growthisand struggles. inspiration forelse others to Government of Canada. clear and that’s it. It’s there. for you because your story on me until after. That was a says. you somewhere and all Maybe in the next five years Some people say it’s kind of blunt or direct. I don’t tend
is going to be lost,’ and she’s never done it and I thought,
very dangerous thing to do. Being on a plane full of fuel
Because of that, deMeulles finds it hard to
your loved ones and your history is gone?’”
it’s something I’ll focus on doing.”