Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, March 16, 2018
Thompson, Manitoba
Serving the Norman Region since 1961
Friday, June 14, 2024
Delivering News to the Nickel Belt since 1960
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
Volume 64 • Issue 23
Trina Ross: the unstoppable force of canoe racing Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill
BY MATTHIAS J. JOHNSON STAFF REPORTER, THOMPSON CITIZEN
In the world of canoe racing, one name has recently echoed in people’s ears; Trina Ross. Her recent triumph at the Triple Crown Canoe Race in Bainbridge, New York has solidified her status as a true northern champion. Ross, alongside her partner Chris Prater, conquered the formidable 70-mile river in only 9 hours and 27 minutes, leaving a trail of awe and admiration in their wake. Not only did they clinch 1st place in their class, but they also secured the overall victory in all stock canoes, outpacing even the men's teams. Ross's sheer determination and unwavering spirit have propelled her to this remarkable feat, setting the stage for an even more exhilarating journey ahead. “it was very challenging! There were servile logs where you had to go over the logs, and you had to really avoid them because the water was moving so fast” said Ross as she explained the tiresome long stretch she endeavored as she pushed through without breaks for just over seven hours. She enthusiastically attributes much of her relentless determination to her fellow paddlers, as their unwavering commitment constantly compels her to push herself to the limits in pursuit of victory. “Seeing the other paddlers that don’t give up amaze me, and I really look up to them!” she asserted. With palpable fervor, she expressed her wholehearted willingness to lend a guiding hand to budding enthusiasts embarking on their own journey in the sport. With now winning gold in this Triple Crown Canoe Race, soaring past the other competitors and beating all the men she looks to even higher obstacles in the near future. To this point her challenges remained closer to home in many Northern community races, but now She’s getting ready to compete in the Yukon River Quest in which she says will be her biggest endeavor yet. The Yukon River Quest
race spans a challenging three-day journey. The first leg of the race is a grueling 20-hour endurance test, pushing participants to their limits as they navigate the rugged terrain. As if that's not enough, the second half of the race extends even further, totaling approximately 30 hours, demanding unwavering determination and unwavering physical and mental strength. With such a daunting goal ahead of her she admitted that it often does scare her, where she never thought of herself as an adrenaline junkie or thrill seeker, and now she looks at taking on the monstrous three-day competition. What originally developed the passion was the desire to be a good athletic example for her family; “I just wanted to be
a role model for my boys”, and in turn began to see her natural talent and seek the sport deeper out of new inspiration. In conclusion, Trina Ross's remarkable journey from a dedicated amateur to a professional champion is an inspiring testament to her unwavering determination and passion for canoe racing. As she continues to conquer new challenges and pave the way for future athletes, her dedication to her sport and her role as a role model for her family and community will undoubtedly leave a lasting legacy. With her sights set on the Yukon River Quest and beyond, there is no doubt that Trina Ross will continue to push the boundaries of her sport and inspire others along the way.
Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. BY IAN GRAHAM EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
Though she’s now written a book about her experiences growing up in Churchill, Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles said writing wasn’t something she always thought she would do. “In my youth I never felt good at writing,” she said. “But when I moved 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
to write things that you have to figure out. It’s pretty clear when I get through.” DeMeulles said she wrote her book, titled Whispers in the Wind: Stories from the North - Life in Churchill for a couple of reasons. “I just sort of thought, you know what, this history, this stuff that’s in my head, it’s going to be gone if I don’t write it down,” she said. “My kids are not going to get it if I don’t do it 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,
“Gravel on your lawn? Gotta be gone.”
‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ I have all these stories and I need to capture them for my grandchildren really because they will be lost if I don’t.” She also has a reputation as a storyteller herself. “I had such a varied history and I would tell people stories and they would go, ‘That’s not true, is it?’ I’d go, ‘Yeah it’s true.’ They’d go, ‘You didn’t do all that, did you? You’ve got to be really 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
was not a very safe thing to do but I jumped at it. I thought that was exciting until the plane landed and they started throwing the fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy cats, I was probably sitting on a bomb.’” Another thing that spurred her on was the hard times facing Churchill since the Hudson Bay Railway suspended operations north of Gillam last spring. “It used to be a really thriving large community and it’s just dwindled down to such a small population now,” deMeulles says. Though she’s not there any longer, her parents and her sister and other family members still are. “My cousin owns the hardware store there,” she says. Because of that, deMeulles finds it hard to
Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham
Trinaweather Ross For all theof harsh swallow when peoplePhoto say courtesy 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 so why don’t they Bay,” she says. “When I go have the option to do that? back home, standing on the I think right now they’re Hudson Bay looking out on feeling like they’re pawns the bay, it just gives you an in a political game and that’s incredible sense. You feel so really sad for them because I small and you feel great.” think the people of ChurchNow that she’s got ill really want to thrive. one book under her belt, They’ve built their worlds deMeulles says she may try there. How would we feel to produce another. if someone came to you and “I have another book in said, ‘I’m sorry, you have to me,” she says. “It’s a darker leave your home community story, more about personand we’re going to displace al growth and struggles. you somewhere else and all Maybe in the next five years your loved ones and your it’s something I’ll focus on history is gone?’” doing.”
• POWER SWEEPING • LAWN MOWING • AERATION • • DETHATCHING • LANDSCAPE DRAINAGE • • LICENSED FERTILIZER AND WEED CONTROL SERVICES • • FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED • NPRUDER@LIVE.CA •
CALL NELSON: 204-307-0281