Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, March 16, 2018
Thompson, Manitoba
Serving the Norman Region since 1961
Friday, November 8, 2024
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
Delivering News to the Nickel Belt since 1960
Volume 64 • Issue 42
Don’t miss our Remembrance Day feature on page 7
Thompson Taekwondo Students Book a way to preserve and pass on Shine at Ultimate Super Series memories of growing up in Churchill
Photos by Chris Byrne BY MATTHIAS J. JOHNSON day’s tournament!” Byrne his knowledge of TaekwonTHOMPSON CITIZEN exclaimed, “Their hard do in Nelson House. HowSTAFF REPORTER work, skills, and exemplary ever, he quickly recognized Thompson’s local Taek- sportsmanship not only im- the burgeoning demand wondo students made a pressed other clubs but also for martial arts training in Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham remarkableFoundation impression highlighted thedirector remarkable Thompsonhas itself. Addictions of at Manitoba northern Gisele deMeulles written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. The Ultimate Taekwondo talent that resides right here After dedicating consecuBY IAN GRAHAM For all the harsh weather to write things that you have tive ‘Oh, martial I’m just as right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow when people say Super Series (UTSS) held in Thompson.” artsbad, teaching, EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET I havepivoted all these stories and to do but I jumped at it. I that Churchill residents and the dangers of polar figure an out.impressive It’s pretty clear in Winnipeg. This event to With 35 Chris from teaching Though she’s written when Iofget through.” under in I need to capture them for thought that was exciting should just find somewhere bears, deMeulles said if it showcased thenow talents of years experience Thompson to his homea book about her experien- hisDeMeulles she Chris wrote land, my grandchildren had been viable she would nine dedicated participants, five blacksaid belts, the Philippines.really What until the plane landed and easier to live. ces growing up in Churchill, Byrne her book, titled Whispers in initially because began they will lost if they started throwing the “To say, ‘Those people have moved back to Churchincluding eight enthusiastic specializes in teachas be a simple Addictions of ing the Olympic Wind: Stories from the I don’t.” white belts Foundation and one deterTaekwondo to visit extended consider- fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. Manitoba North - Life in Churchill Shedue alsotohas reputation “I miss the shoreline, I mined red northern belt with director a black students of various ages for ably theaimpacts of cats, I was probably sitting should just leave,’ is quite Gisele The deMeulles said writ- both a couple of reasons. as apandemic. storyteller During herself. this on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disre- miss the rock, I miss the stripe. triumph of these competitive pursuits the ing wasn’t something she and “Iself-defense just sort oftechniques. thought, unforeseen “I had such a varied hisAnother thing that spectful. If we were in the polar bears even though young martial artists was interval, Byrne always thought shefact would tory and I would telland people what,and thisPresihis- dedicated underscored by the that you Asknow the Owner his time ef- spurred her on was the same boat in another area they’re very dangerous and do. tory, this stuff that’s in my stories they would go, hard times facing Churchill I think we would scream I really miss the Hudson every single one of them dent of Laban Fitness, lo- forts toand teaching the valu“In my youth I never head, it’s going to bePlaza gone able ‘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 returned home adorned with cated in Thompson skills of self-defense felt good at writing,” she Mall, if I don’the write it down,” ‘Yeah it’s true.’ go, way suspended operations have the option to do that? back home, standing on the medals. serves as she the to individuals in They’d the Philipsaid. “Buthelm when moved ‘You didn’t doenriching all that, did north GillamBuilding last spring. said. “Myforce kids behind are not goI think right nowprepared they’re and Hudson Bay looking on fullofswing. on students are fully come home without medAt the of Ithis tal- driving further his in the pines, to Thompson to getChris into Taekwondo you? You’ve got to be really this “It momentum, used to be a Byrne really to feeling like they’re pawns als the quite bay, itoften” just gives you an ing to get it ifclasses I don’t do it teaching showcase their skills. ented group is Master and experience. the school of degree social work, and it’s sessions something al- old.’ I was like,tournament ‘No, actually plans thriving large community a political and that’s incredible sense. You feel so to introduce an adult in “The studygame of Taekwondo Byrne looks forward with Byrne, a 5th black training heldI’ve there. This past at that I hadof toTaekwrite Currently, ways wanted myFitness mom to I did all athat before Imilewas Taekwondo and it’s just class dwindled down is really sad for them because small and you great.” in Decemincredibly beneficial forI anticipation to feel another fulbelt of point the World Laban is marked significant for university realized, undergoing do. My mom’s elder 27,’ andas they to such a small population think theas people of ChurchNowyear that she’s got expanding opportun- children it instills values filling of imparting his wondo. His and enthusiasm theantail endand of stone, it went was ‘What?’” the first ber, ‘Holy, I’m for not his badstudents at this, ashe’s an artist, now,”for deMeulles says. one book under her belt, Looking back, of ities ill really want to thrive. knowledge more individuals such as courtesy, perseverof Taekwondo and pride remodel, withshe’s plansgot forsoa opportunity in five some years for right?’ I certainly developed many wonderful be- Byrne those experiences things to Though she’s there ance, They’ve their worlds deMeulles says she mayand try experience thenot benefits andbuilt discipline,” Byrne to the eager children is palpable, as he reflects on grand reopening stories by the end to take hisare students a lotincredible of skill inopportunity university of cause tells her to she might not again. anymartial longer,arts. her parents and emphasized. there. How would we feel adults to produce another. of “I strengthof Thompson, inthe thisshe yearalways to better serve compete. Thedoexcitement and came out of there stories at Parks Canada in surrounding “I did somethis pretty bizarre sister and otherare family if someone to you and spiring “I havethem another book in sessions held en the kidscame bodies where to achieve this tournament has with pro- the community’s fitness event has herTraining a veryfor strong skill in my needs. Churchill and I’ve always reignited stuff like fuel into the said, ‘I’m sorry, you to greatness me,” she says. “It’sdevelop a darker members stillaare. times week, with mixing that with thehave art of and vided each award-winthehauls passion for three writing and confi dence in hounded ‘Please, just high Arcticinatthe-35,” said additional “My cousin owns the Taekwondo leave your home community story, more about through personpractices schedmakes great strong character ning individual. “Our local Byrne’sher,journey to Taekwondo communmy writing.students I write totalvery Thompson put it on tape, I will20write it ity, deMeulles. “It didn’t dawn hardware storetournaments there,” she athletes. and we’reHense going the to displace al growth and struggles. as future reason the transformative practice Taekwondo began years as classes resumed on uled clear and that’s It’sSaturthere. ago for you because story September on me until after. says. you somewhere else and all of Maybe in the next five years to ensure that the why they go to tournaments martial arts. ly crushed it atit.last when he cameyour to impart 9 andThat arewas nowa approach 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.”