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June 28 2024

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Nickel Belt News

Volume 58 Number 11

Friday, March 16, 2018

Thompson, Manitoba

Serving the Norman Region since 1961

Friday, June 28, 2024

Delivering News to the Nickel Belt since 1960

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Volume 64 • Issue 25

Nickel Days takes Canada to the North Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill

Photos by Matthias J. Johnson BY MATTHIAS J. JOHNSON STAFF REPORTER, THOMPSON CITIZEN

Nickel Days once again took the city of Thompson by storm as it hosted the biggest event of the year. Drawing in around 16,000 attendees over the weekend, the festival surpassed the turnout of the renowned Winterfest, solidifying its status as a highlight of the region's calendar. The festival, which originated in the early 1960s, has evolved significantly over the years. What started as a modest summer festival organized by the Rotary Club with a parade and small circus transformed into the now-iconic Nickel Days Fest. The pivotal

moment came in 1972 when work and dedication of the National King Miner the large volunteer board. Competition joined forces Jenn Thackera, President Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham with the festival, leading to of Nickel Days, expressed Foundationher of Manitoba northern Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. the adoption Addictions of the name gratitude to director sponsors "Nickel Days."BYSince then, and volunteers foryoutheir IAN GRAHAM For all the harsh weather to write things that have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow when people say to figurecontributions 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 the event has EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET continued to invaluable Though she’s now written when I get through.” deMeulles said if it grow, becoming a magnet in making the festival a re- I need to capture them for thought that was exciting should just find somewhere bears, a book about her experienDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. had been viable she would for visitors from corners sounding success. ces all 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 to Churchof the Wind: Stories the I don’t.” fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. of Canada. Addictions Foundation “Nickel days is afrom great North - Life in Churchill for also has a reputation cats, I was probably sitting should just leave,’ is quite “I miss the shoreline, I Nickel DaysManitoba boastednorthern a di- director event for Thompson and the asShe Gisele deMeulles said writ- a couple of reasons. a storyteller herself. simplistic. It’s quite disre- miss the rock, I miss the on a bomb.’” verse array ofingattractions, surrounding community, we wasn’t something she “I had such a varied his“I just sort of thought, Another thing that spectful. If we were in the polar bears even though thought she would you thankful know what,tothis including thealways ever-popuare super allhisof tory and I would tell people spurred her on was the same boat in another area they’re very dangerous and do. tory, this stuff that’s in my stories and they would go, hard times facing Churchill I think we would scream I really miss the Hudson lar midway with its array our sponsors that help us “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 I go of rides and treats, out contribute finanfelt good along at writing,” sheand 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 on the said. “But when I moved kids are notsergo- ‘You didn’t do all that, did north of Gillam last spring. I think right now they’re Hudson Bay looking out on side other planned events cially said. and “My with other 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 and family games, Stage vices to make sure that this the school of social work, and it’s something I’ve al- old.’ I was like, ‘No, actually thriving large community in a political game and that’s incredible sense. You feel so Shows, The at Lion's Club is a wanted success, that point I had tofestival write ways mythat momwe to I did all that before I was and it’s just dwindled down really sad for them because I small and you feel great.” for university and realized, do. My mom’s an elderthat and 27,’ and they went ‘What?’” to such a small population think the people of ChurchNow that she’s got Parade, and concerts feahave board members ‘Holy, I’m not bad at this, she’s an artist, she’s got so Looking back, some of now,” deMeulles says. ill really want to thrive. one book under her belt, turing Michelle Wright and are volunteers that helped right?’ I certainly developed many wonderful stories be- those experiences are things Though she’s not there They’ve built their worlds deMeulles says she may try Don Walker. a lot of skill in university to put cause in lots theirtellsown she of always her she might not do again. any longer, her parents and there. How would we feel to produce another. out of theretime with tostories Parks Canada in “I did some pretty bizarre her sister and other family if someone came to you and “I have another book in The success and andcame seamless makeatthis something a very strong skill in my Churchill and I’ve always stuff like fuel hauls into the members still are. said, ‘I’m sorry, you have to me,” she says. “It’s a darker execution of Nickel Days to look forward to.” writing and confidence in hounded her, ‘Please, just high Arctic at -35,” said “My cousin owns the leave your home community story, more about personcan be credited the hard page mytowriting. I write very Continued put it on tape, on I will write 7 it deMeulles. “It didn’t dawn hardware store there,” she and we’re going to displace al growth and struggles. clear and that’s it. It’s there. Some people say it’s kind of blunt or direct. I don’t tend

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.”

on me until after. That was a very dangerous thing to do. Being on a plane full of fuel

says. Because of that, deMeulles finds it hard to

you somewhere else and all your loved ones and your history is gone?’”

Maybe in the next five years it’s something I’ll focus on doing.”

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June 28 2024 by Thompson Citizen - Issuu