New northern Polar bear excursions an ‘amazing experience ...
Transcript of New northern Polar bear excursions an ‘amazing experience ...
C M Y K TC_07_Dec-11-10_CO_01C M Y K
(Cont’d from Page 1)
Moreover, he recentlyspoke to a trade dele-gation to Manitobafrom Germany,Iceland and Denmark
that showed a lot of interest inpurchasing Wild Man’s products.Smaller packages of rice and
soup are sold in specialty storessuch as De Luca’s and health foodstores in Winnipeg, as well asgrocery outlets in the province.“Arts and Crafts Shows and
Farmers’ Markets are excellentvenues from which to sell onepound packages of our rice andsoups,” Richard says.
The company is about to goonline with a store (www.wild-manricing.ca) in a few weeks.In the meantime, products can be
ordered from Tony at 204-794-7068.Another northern wild rice
producer is Richard Russell of FarNorth Wild Rice of Flin Flon.Russell has been growing wild
rice in northern Manitoba forabout 25 years.He says the best quality rice is
found in remote lakes and streams
north of the 55th parallel inManitoba.Also OPAM certified, Russell
says the “north’s long, warmsummer days and clean, purewaters produce a long grain,flavourful rice known to be thefinest in the world.”
Weather critical factor
Growing such a delicacy dependsupon the weather as high or lowwater levels, heavy winds, hail oran early frost can destroy the cropor prevent it from ripening into itsattractive dark brown colour anddelicious kernels, he says.Russell’s online store
(www.wildrice.mb.ca) offers aselection of bagged rice withCanadian prices starting at $6.50for a one pound poly bag and $8 fora one pound gift bag.A five pound Ziploc bag is avail-
able for $31.50 and a 50 pound bulkbag for $300.For shipping costs within Canada
and to destinations outside thecountry, contact Russell at [email protected] or call 204-687-3631.
Saturday Free Press, Winnipeg, December 11, 2010 7
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McLauchlan says he’sworking closely withthe local Chamber ofCommerce to try andenhance the town’s
tourism profile.The newmayor spent 26 years in
the RCMP before retiring so anypolitical involvement then was outof the question. Now he wants tochannel his energy into making goodchanges happen.The Pas is one of the oldest settle-
ments in northern Manitoba. Itoffers raw natural beauty thatattracts visitors from around theworld. A traditional meeting placebetween Indian trappers and theFrench and English fur traders, itwants to bill itself as the Gateway tothe North.The Pas offers unique recreational
activities and a variety of culturalattractions such as the Trapper’sFestival, Agricultural Fair andOpasquia Indian Days. It also boastsit is a town where the NorthernLights shine year-round.“We have beautiful clear lakes,
clean air, great hunting and fabulousfishing,” McLauchlan adds. “This isreally an untapped resource and wewant to develop it.”.Flin Flon, population 5,600, has
also had its share of economic badnews with the closure of the localsmelter after five decades. The tallchimney has now been capped andits closure, on environmental andeconomic grounds, eliminated 200jobs, though many have retrainedand some have retired.The newmayor of the town, which
straddles the Manitoba andSaskatchewan border, is GeorgeFontaine and he looks on the brightside.Past accusations that the smelter
had polluted the town are nowsilenced and he notes that remedia-tion work by the province meansthat two of the town’s three parkshave had a total rejuvenation andmakeover.Fontaine wants to focus on this
greener image and work with otherlevels of government to increasecamping and tourism generally. He’salso focused on providing positivethings for the younger generation.“We are into the fourth generation
of people who have lived here andwe want to keep families togetherand make sure there’s continuity,”Fontaine says.“We’re in a push now to create a
skateboarding facility and next yearwe want to develop an Olympic styleBMX track. It’s important to haverecreational facilities and programsto engage all members of thecommunity.”
New northernmayors facing
many challenges
Polar bear excursions an ‘amazing experience’(Cont’d from Page 5)
Two big males were play-fighting, rearing up onhind legs, mouths wideopen, pushing andbattering each other
with their powerful paws.It was a formidable display of
strength, agility and endurance asthey wrestled each other to theground, rested for a spell on themuskeg and then went back foranother round.“They are solitary creatures but
they do this to socialize,” explainedPilkington, who said the two bearswere each about 10 years old.“They play because there wasn’t
a need to fight (over mating with afemale or a food source), andthey’re intelligent. When theycome to play like this, they cometo know each other through smell.“It’s a complex thing. These
alliances between bears are madein the fall, but only last until theice forms on Hudson Bay. Then,it’s every bear for himself as theyhunt seals.”During another Tundra Buggy
expedition after a heavy snowfallseveral days later, we also sawscattered clutches of willowptarmigan sheltering amongstdwarf willow, a snow bunting, acouple of red foxes (but not any of
the smaller white arctic foxes),and even a seal poking its headbriefly out of the rough HudsonBay waters as our Tundra Buggytrundled past the shoreline.Back at the centre, our group
heard presentations by Pilkingtonand other experts, including
University of Manitoba zoologistProfessor Jane Waterman, who isstudying individual polar bearidentification and play behaviour.One evening, Dene elder and
long-time Churchill resident Caro-line Bjorklund gave a poignant,informal account of her life and
the Sayisis Dene people.Bjorklund was one of the Sayisi
Dene who were forcibly relocatedby the government from theirnorthern Manitoba homes toChurchill in the 1950s, causingunanticipated social and culturaldifficulties.Our vacation also included a
45-minute helicopter ride,exhilarating sled-dog rides (onsleds with wheels) at Blue SkyExpeditions and a visit to theTown of Churchill.There, we toured the Parks
Canada Visitors Centre and thefamed EskimoMuseum, stood onthe rocky shore of a raging Hud-son Bay, went gift shopping andhad lunch at the lively and afford-able Gypsy’s Bakery, Restaurantand Coffee Shop owned by theDa Silva family.“This was an amazing experi-
ence,” said Leonora Rodriquez,a soft-spoken biologist, webdesigner and world traveller fromCosta Rica, during lunch on theTundra Buggy one day.“I haven’t gotten this close to
nature anywhere else in Canadaas here in Churchill. This is purenature.”
Writer Martin Zeilig’s trip wassponsored by TourismManitoba
and the CNSC
The Tundra Buggy takes visitors out for a day of polar bear viewing
near Churchill. (Photo courtesy Robert Taylor- Postmedia)
Wild Man Ricing harvests this year’s crop on a lake near The Pas.
Northern Manitoba harvesterssay wild rice ‘finest in the world’
Highway 10 North Opaskwayak, MBPO Box 10310 R0B 2J0
p. 204-627-7230f. 204-623-2770
www.otineka-mall.ca
KELSEY SCHOOL DIVISION
“MISSION STATEMENT”
“We strive to be a respectful andenthusiastic school community, dedicated
to quality education for all.”
For information about our fine schoolsincluding the Kelsey Learning Centre’s
adult program please contact:
Margaret Barbour Collegiate 623-3485École Opasquia Early Years School 623-3459Kelsey Community School 623-7421École Scott Bateman Middle School 623-3411Mary Duncan School (including 623-1420Kelsey Learning Centre)Kelsey School Division Office 623-6421
www.ksd.mb.ca
FOR INFORMATION ON EVENTS PLEASE CALLCRYSTAL KOLT - CULTURAL COORDINATOR, (204) 687-5974 or [email protected]
www.flinflonartscouncil.com
SUPPORTING ART IN THE NORTHAND NORTHERN ARTISTS
electronics and communications at home, work, in the car, and on the go
music, movies, games and entertainment for every age, every taste
high definition, home theater, and satellite tv to make every evening an experience
two locations serving The Pas, OCN, and area for twenty years
Otineka Mall Highway 10 N Uptown Mall 333 Edwards Ave
The Pas and District Chamber of Commerce 2009 Business of the Year
The Wescana InnA full-service inn with 73 newly renovatedrooms on an approved snowmobile route
close to fuel and downtown
Featuring full service diningNow offering in-room movies.
1-800-665-9468Fax: 1-204-623-3383439 Fischer Ave.,The Pas, MBwww.wescanainn.com
Wekusko Falls Lodgeonly 10 miles from Snow Lake MB.
Open All Year Round
• High Speed Internet
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• We are the only lodge on Trampling Lake
Bryan & Elissa Bogdan, [email protected]
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Call toll free 1-877-358-2341
Phone (204) 687-3631Fax (204) 687-5246
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88 Balsam Street, Snow Lake, MB
Ph. (204) 358-2343
The Town of Lynn LakeP.O. Box 100, 503 Sherritt AvenueLynn Lake, Manitoba R0B 0W0
Tel: (204) 356-2418 [email protected]: (204) 356-8297 www.lynnlake.ca
An extensive body of known and probable mineral reserves existsalong the Lynn Lake Greenstone Belt. Lynn Lake welcomes newinvestors to stake claims and develop the areas high mineralpotential, or review current exploration program results. The timeis now; the resources are here. Come and tap into the regionsprecious base metal deposits.
Lynn Lake has a 5000 x 150 footpaved airport runway owned andoperated by the Town of Lynn Lake.
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