Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, March 16, 2018
Thompson, Manitoba
Serving the Norman Region since 1961
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
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;-ͽͷͺ
Serving the Hub of the North since 1960
Volume 60 • Issue 31
Second-ever Thompson MLA, who was a paratrooper and union president before election, died in April
Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill
The second person to ever repcompany based in La Ronge. It’s resent the Thompson electoral disan Indigenous company and they trict in the Manitoba legislature transport all uranium ore in Sasdied in April and is remembered katchewan. He not only caused by one of his children and a former people to be employed but he colleague as a self-taught man who caused the creation of an institution was passionate about improving which is still operating.” the economic position of IndigenDillen would go on to be a founding member of the Saskatchous people. Ken Dillen, who was elected ewan Association of Taxpayers and as Thompson MLA in 1973, sucsecretary for the Prairie Centre ceeding Jopesh Borowski, and Policy Institute, a Conservative served only a single term, died think tank in Saskatchewan, but April 20 at 81 years old at Serpent never again held elected public River Indian Reservation in Cutoffice, though he did run for the ler, Ontario, the same community Manitoba Liberals in Thompson in where he was born. the 2011 provincial election. Dillen captured the seat to repCollingridge says she is amazed resent Thompson in the legislature by all the things her father manas a member of the NDP party by aged to do with only an eighth defeating former Thompson city gradeBelt education, thanks largely to Nickel News photo by Ian Graham councillor Foundation and Progressive Con- northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. his passion for reading. Addictions of Manitoba servative candidate Anna Denby “He was never without a book,’ BY fewer IAN GRAHAM alldad the was harsh weather to write things that you have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow when people say by than 300 votes. Four she said.For “My not one to 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 unless the dangers polar years later, he lost by 916 votes sit around he had aofbook in she’s 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 to Though Ken MacMaster, who became his hand.” a book her experienhad wasn’t been viable the firstabout PC MLA for ThompsonDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. He also one toshe talkwould about ces 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 to Churchandgrowing also served only a single term retirement. Addictions of Steve the Wind: Stories from the I don’t.” fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They“I think ill inhe a heartbeat. before losingFoundation to the NDP’s really didn’t like the Manitoba She also has a reputation cats, I was probably sitting should just leave,’ is quite “I said. miss the shoreline, I Ashton in northern 1981. director North - Life in Churchill for idea,” she Gisele deMeulles saidback writ-on [his a couple of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disre-At the miss theofrock, I miss the “I think he looked time his death, Dillen ing something she very“I just sort of thought, “I had such a varied hispolar bears even for though timewasn’t as Thompson MLA] was working as consultant VoltKen DillenAnother thing that spectful. If we were in the always thought she would you know what, this his- tory and I would tell people spurred her on was the same boat in another area they’re dangerous and positively,” said Dillen’s daughter age Power in very Northern Ontario. do. tingstuff elected to the legislature with would him ingo, consulting ventures that’s in my hard times facing Manitoba Churchill decided I thinkthat wevegetables would scream“HeI had really miss he thewas Hudson storiesthe and they Deborah Collingridge. “I thinktory, he this a trailer going youth following thego,end of Dillen’s pol- Bay couldRailbe grown in the north in what head, following it’s going year. to be gone ‘That’s not true, is it?’ I’d since the Hudson about that so why don’t they go felt“In thatmy he had doneI anever lot of good. to pullBay,” up toshe onesays. of the“When lakes Iand felt good at disappointing writing,” sheto him to his Indigenous roots, iticalThey’d career.go, “He was practical operations were called have tunnelthe gardens,” said if I don’t Thanks write it down,” she ‘Yeah it’s true.’ option to do that? standing onlive the way asuspended i think it was that’s back wherehome, he was going to said. I movedthat said. Dillen wasare well-suited represent guyall that people im- last Johnson. put 40 of those didn’t do that, did trusted kids not go- to ‘You northalmost of Gillam spring. “Ken I think right now in they’re Hudson Bay out on that he“But lost when the election, he “My this summer.” said looking Johnson, who to getfour intoyears. legislabecause he“It talked about communities throughout thepawns ingI tothe getThompson it if I don’tarea do in it the you? You’vemediately got to be really used to be 40 a really feeling like they’re the bay, you an wasThompson only able toto serve saw Dillen justitajust fewgives weeks prior the socialtowork, ture and bridgeI’ve the aldivideold.’ between things were important to the community north and some of those tunnel and it’s something I was like, ‘No,that actually thriving large in a political game and that’s incredible sense. You feel so thinkschool he wasofhoping be re-electto his death and had a conversation at point write ways the provincial government in Wingardens got wiped about people and he could often wanted my mom to I did all that before I was and it’s suggest just dwindled downjustreally sad forout them because I him small and you feel great.” ed that and do moreI had in histocommunity.” with three days before he died. forAuniversity and realized, a decade ago.” andan constituents Northern do. Mynipeg mom’s elder and in 27,’ and theyanswers.” went ‘What?’” to such a small population think the people of Church-“We were Nowtalking thatabout she’s former paratrooper with the howgot we ‘Holy, I’m Armed not badForces, at this,Dillen In his post-political Manitoba communities. Dillen tookofa hand-on she’s an artist, she’s got so now,”approach deMeulles says. under her belt, Looking back, some ill really life, wantDillen to thrive. Canadian wouldone bringbook this sense of economic right?’ certainly developed “He wasstories one ofbe-thosethose people with programs at improving worked withbuilt Johnson many wonderful experiences are thingsaimedThough she’s not theretogether They’ve theironworlds deMeulles mayand try came toI Thompson with his family or social justice says to theshe north a skill in university the Key uranium comhad learned work in not food Manicause who she always tells how her toshe might do security again. for Northern any longer, her parents andLake there. Howmine would we feel to produce another. in lot theof late 1960s and was elected how difficult it was going to be,” and came out of thereSteelworkwith storiesIndigenous and Euro-Canadian mission Saskatchewan. tobans, at Parks Canada in “I did some pretty Johnson bizarre recalls. her sister and other familyin northern if someone came to you and “I have another book in president of United said Johnson. a strong says Les “He started pig farms the job of you com-have to“Myme,” andeffectively,” I’ve always stuffJohnlike fuel hauls into thelittle said, ‘I’m sorry, “It’sstay a darker members stillallare. “He was given ersvery Local 6166skill for in onemy termChurchill in culture dad she just says. couldn’t put,” writing and going confidence son,her, who‘Please, was a senior the north carried the owns municating with all the Indigenhounded just provincial high Arcticover at -35,” saidand he “My cousin the leave your home community story, more“He about 1969 before to workinfor the said Collingridge. waspersonalways my writing. I write very bureaucrat when Dillen elect- “It breeding stock north and store then there,” ous communities,” said Johnson put it on tape, I will write it was deMeulles. didn’t dawn hardware she and we’re going to displace al growth and busy struggles. provincial government’s Northern working and always and I clear and that’s it.in It’s1972 there. edbecause as MLAyour and story went onon tome work a professor University of “Out of that you camesomewhere a transportation for you until after. That wasata thesays. else andthink all he Maybe inloved the next five years Manpower Corps and getreally that.” 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.”