Wednesday March 16th 2022
The Atlin Whisper “Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world.” Margaret Mead
IN THE MOMENT V The Rec Centre Bar Paul Lucas I slam the truck door and head towards the steps that lead down to the bar entrance, underneath the big log building that houses the Atlin Rec Centre. And there they are - Kindy Johnson and Wava Heineken, two women who have been in this town as long as I can remember. They are smoking cigarettes. Perfect. If I ask nicely, maybe they’ll offer me one. I quit smoking years ago, but I remain ticked to this day that such a pleasurable habit could possibly be so bad for your health. It’s one of many grievances I intend to bring up at the Pearly Gates - grievances such as the lousy design of the human knee; the injection of powerful hormones at puberty that make you a freakin’ maniac; and of course, the ludicrous location of the sex organs. Anyway, every now and then I up and rebel. I shake my fist at the heavens, bum a cigarette, suck the smoke deep into my lungs, and hurl epithets at the powers that be for designing such a shoddy universe. After chewing the fat with my smoking partners, I descend the three steps to the inside door leading to the pub, push it open, and walk inside. “Oh no, not you again,’ comes a voice from the end of the L shaped bar. “I thought you were out of town.” “Nope, I’m back,” I reply, “I want to make sure your life here is a non-stop misery.” “Well, so far you are doing a great job.” — The first time I set foot in the Rec Centre bar, the locals were meeting to address a couple of community issues. It was 1977, and I was visiting my old pal Jamie Stephen (the then Conservation Officer) for the first time. In attendance, to the best of my recollection, were Tom Kirkwood (Atlin’s unofficial mayor), Dave Dickinson (who would eventually help me with my cement pour), Shirley Connelly (wife of outfitter Tom Connelly), Diane Smith (author and artist), Arthur Mitchell (owner of the General Store), Dick Sneigocki (owner of the Trading Post), and Glen McKenzie (prop. of the liquour store) - folks who would become a part of my life in the years to come.