Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, March 16, 2018
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Volume 63 • Issue 20
Council helps RCMP celebrate 150th anniversary
Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill
Photos submitted by the City of Thompson Thompson RCMP detachment members with Councillor Louis Fitzpatrick, Mayor Colleen Smook, Councillor Joyce McIvor and Deputy Mayor Kathy Valentino on May 23, the 150th anniversary of the police force’s establishment. Thompson Mayor Colleen Smook and members of city council joined Thompson RCMP members and other local partners at the Thompson detachment May 23 for cake and cupcakes to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the national police force. Accompanied by Deputy Mayor Kathy Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham Valentino and councillors Louis Fitzpatrick Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. and Joyce McIvor, as well as Thompson Fire & Emergency Services members, who that you have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow when people say BY IAN GRAHAM For all the harsh weather to write things work closely with the police, and StreetEDITOR@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 the dangers of polar Reach North team members attendance, Though she’s now written inwhen I get through.” I need to capture them for thought that was exciting should just find somewhere bears, deMeulles said if it the mayor congratulated the RCMP on the said she wrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. a book about her experienDeMeulles had been viable she would milestone thanked the officers in atces growingand 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 Churchtendance forFoundation their service. Addictions of the Wind: Stories from the I don’t.” fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. “We appreciate alldirector you do in the communManitoba northern North - Life in Churchill for She also has a reputation cats, I was probably sitting should just leave,’ is quite “I miss the shoreline, I ity, all deMeulles of you, so said thankwrityou,” Smook Gisele a couplesaid. of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disre- miss the rock, I miss the act establishing theshe Northwest ingAnwasn’t something “I Mountjust sort of thought, “I had such a varied hisAnother thing that spectful. If we were in the polar bears even though ed Police, the predecessor the RCMP, always thought she would to you know what, this his- tory and I would tell people spurred her on was the same boat in another area they’re very dangerous and to Canada’s do.provide policing services in 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 Northwest Territory, including areas “In my youth I never head, it’sthat 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 are now Nunavut, felt good Yukon, at writing,” she Alberta, if I don’t and 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 Saskatchewan, wasI moved passed bysaid. Parliament said. “But when “My kids are not go- ‘You didn’t do all that, did north of Gillam last spring. I think right now they’re Hudson Bay looking out on on May 23, 1873. The RCMP was formed 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 in by of thesocial merger of theand Northwest the1920 school work, 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 Mounted Police andtothe Dominion at that point I had write ways Police wanted my mom 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.” in eastern Canada. The RCMP has for university and realized, do. provided My mom’s an elder and 27,’ and they went ‘What?’” to such a small population think the people of ChurchNow that she’s got provincial policing services Manitoba ‘Holy, I’m not bad at this, in 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, since and thedeveloped force has more than 700 right?’1932 I certainly many wonderful stories be- those experiences are things Though she’s not there They’ve built their worlds deMeulles says she may try detachments in 150 communities across a lot of skill in university cause shethe always tells her she might not do again. any longer, her parents and there. How would we feel to produce another. country today. and came out of there with stories at 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 Thompson RCMP detachment is also a very strong skill in my Churchill and I’ve always stuff fuel hauls held into the said, ‘I’m sorry, you have to me,” she says. “It’s aDeibert darker still are. The Thompson RCMPlike detachment a cakemembers and coffee Thompson RCMP Police Community Relations Constable Sandy planning a street Avenue writing and confiparty denceoninSelkirk hounded her, ‘Please, high Arctic “Myofcousin owns the leave your home community story, more about personreceptionjust on May 23 to markatthe-35,” 150thsaid anniversary the and Mayor Colleen Smook at the Thompson RCMP detachment with a cake in of their building toon mark myfront writing. I write veryin July put it tape, Ipolice will write it being deMeulles. “It didn’t dawn hardware in store commemorating there,” she and to displace al growth struggles. force established by an act of Parliament thewe’re 150thgoing anniversary of the police force’sand establishment the clearanniversary. and that’s it. It’s there. for you because1873. your story on me until after. That was a says. you somewhere else and all Maybe in the next five years on May 23. 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.”