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The Lucknow Sentinel, 1985-09-04, Page 18.:., Page 18-11Acknow Sentinel, Wednesday, September 4,, 1985 Gordon Pinsent brings to CBC -TV a story based on the 'loman family of Clinton, and their experiences in northern Ontario•with the School On Wheels. The Sloman family liv- ed in a converted CNR railway coach for 39 years, bringing education to isolated nor- thern families..Pinsent has written and is starring in a series And Miles To Go, based on the story. It will be telecast, Wednesday; September 11 at 9 p.m. on CBC -TV. Story of Clinton family. told in CBC production The story of the Sloman family of Clinton and the School on Wheels will be the basis for the new CBC -TV drama starring Gordon Pinsent. . • . And Miles To Go, written and starring Pinsent will be telecast on Wednesday, September 11 .at 9 p.m. as part of Canada Week. The pilot episode is based on the true life . experience of Fred and Cela Sidman and their teaching experiences in northern On- tario, For 39 years, starting in the 1920s, the late Mr. Sloman,.his wife and five children, made their home and workplace in a con- verted CNR railway coach, known as the School on Wheels. The railway car, now based in Clinton, travelled a 148 mile line of tracks between Capreol and Foleyet bringing education to isolated norther families. Children and adults alike sought. educa- tion and friendship in the warmth of the Sloman family .schoolhouse, Over 1.000 children who came. out of the hushlands graduated from the School on Wheels. . Today the School on Wheels has a perma- nent home in Clinton's Sloman Memorial Park. Extensive renovations are being made to the old railway coach to restore it to its original state. • ' Mrs. Sloman, who last year earned the. Order of Canada award for her work in the. education field asked that the CBC -TV series not use the Sloman name in their pro,- duction: ro-duction: A modest woinan, Mrs. Sloman prefers to maintain a low profile. However, Pinsent has based much of his television . production on the Sloman stdry. Pinsent plays the part of Jack Morrissey, a disillusioned teacher whose methods are no longer welcoine in the private school system. He, is forced to resign and decides to visit his chronically ill teenage daughter Neila, at a convalescent home north of Sud- bury. While there, Jack realizes that he and Neila need to spend more time together, and he accepts a job that he ,really • isn't in- terested in — as a teacher of a probationary "school on wheels". The school is a refur- bished railway car, shunted up and down the rail line out; of Sudbury, stopping "in the middle of nowhere" for a few days, serving whoever comes out of the bush to learn. The immigrants, trappers, natives, miners and railway workers in the"isolated bush communities -don't readily accept Mr. Morrissey. Then he begins to realize that teaching these people and their children is the ultimate challenge of his career- that he is their only hope of achieving an education. Appearing with Gordon Pinsent in the cast are Ken James, Ed McNamara, Helen Taylor and Elizabeth Rukavina. And Miles To 'Go was directed, by Dor McBrearty and produced by James'Swan. Gordon Pinsent is known to television viewers and theatre goers across Canada.. He gained national attention in the 1960s in his television role as Quentin Durgens M.P. and the popular television series, A. Gift To Last. He is also best known for his writing and film lead in the feature film, The Rowdyman, a story based on his New- foundland youth. A novel based on the film was published in 1974, followed by a second novel, John and the. Missus, brought Co the. stage • of the Blyth Festival by actor Ted Johns. Alan Pope irst in PC leadership race Todd Mowatt The political stage was set in Blyth asa. number of political and theatrical dignitaries attended the screening of Gar- risons Garage last Tuesday night: AIan Pope, Cochrane South MPP ,was on hand andannounced unofficially that he was intending on running in the upcoming Progressive Conservative leadership race. "Since you fellows have past this week's deadline, I guess it is safe to tell you that I will be entering into the 'leadership race," Pope said confidently with a grin. Pope went on to explain how a", candidate assesses his chances and prepares himself for such a decision. "I have been phoning around the province and determining my chances. I have talk- ed to a number of my colleagues and I have been assessing rimy. chances. I have also been trying t� gather some support across parlia- ment. I feel good about running and I am. physically and emotionally prepared," Pope said. It was reported Wednesdaythat two in- fluential.MPPs have left the .camp'of Dennis Tirnbrell and at least one has sided with Pope. "The problem is we are in opposition and we have to have someone more forceful. A leader that will be prepared to go for the jugular. Pope is prepared to do that," Ron McNeil, Elgin MPP and dean of the legislature said Wednesday. McNeil explained that Pope won his sop - port when he made a special trip to St. Thomas earlier this year as health minister to straighten out financing problems .for .the St. Thomas hospital. Dick Treleaven (Oxford) is the second MPP to pull his support away from Tim- brell. Treleaven said he was so disappointed with Timbrells.last campaign that he is un- committed this tine around. However with Timbrell's support weaken- ing Pope could gain supporters as the leadership race begins: Pope was questioned ori why he didn't run in the last ProgressiveConservative leader- ship race. "At that time I felt after I analyzed the situation that I wasn't ready..I also felt that others.. w.ould,have taken some support out of my natural constituency," he said. Pope was then asked how he felt about -the possible competition from his colleagues. "I am not going to run down any of the candidates. But I can tell you that I have gained a lot of • experience over the past number of months. At the last leadership convention those who ran had their chance and I believe this is mine. "It's time we turn the page on the last 12 months. Don't get me wrong, 1 was and Still amja loyal supporter of Miller and I have no regrets, I fought as hard as I could for my leader. "Now I believe we need a leader to unite the party and get the 11 seats back that we need to form the government," he said. The questioning then turned to the issues that confront both, the government and the people of Ontario, free trade with the United States and separate school funding. - "The issue of Catholic . funding will definitely be discussed during the leader- ship campaign. Over the summer months we have beenlistening to what the people have had to say. After the • first round of court hearings we will assess our position on the issue and deal with the specific issues in- volved. "We must remember we are only 'talking, about an extension of funding from grades 10-13 and it's not like a whole new system is being started up. 'The thing we aregoing to have.to look at is what kind of an educational system we are going to have in five'years? "Looking back in, .history,. many of the. • older universities in Canada were started by different faiths and they evolved upthrough the years to the type of system that is in place today. Thereare examples that sup- port both sides of the question and we along, with the people will make our decision," Pope said. • • With respect to the issue of free trade Pope said, the matter needs immediate at- tention. • "Mr. Peterson cannot avoid to discuss the, issue of free trade until November. The Gib- bons Bill is going through Congress in the 'United States. The bill allows the termina- tion of• subsidies on foreign resource pro- ducts without hearing. This bill would allow the U.S. to place quotas or counterveiling duties on a number • of Canadian products. Including oil, gas, lumber •and agricultural products, "The time to act is now; youcan't stick your head in the sands of Grand Bend and say your not going to talk about it. That's not being responsible to the� workers of the pro- vince," Pope said alluding to Peterson's summer home: Pope has been in politics for 21 years. In his, youth he was national president of the young Conservative party for three years and amunicipal Alderman for two. Then he entered the realmof provincial politics and he has had many great suc- cesses, "I have lead a very interesting life and I have enjoyed being Attorney General, Minister of Health and then Minister of Natural Resources:" The most challenging portforlio for Pope was that of Attorney General because of the challenges that he was faced with. "I helped change the family, law reform act: It' took a lot of work, but it solved a number of social problems. The curtain has now opened on Alan Popes leadership bid. The Conservatives have yet to set a date €or, a convention, but • one things for certain. When the, race begins Popes going to have some stiff competition. Legion branches collect *200,000 for tornado victims Royal Canadian Legion branches across Ontario have raised $200,000 .• �, ims of the tornado that hit pities in southern Ontario last May. The $200,000 donation, presented Aug- ust 16 to Ontario Red Cross . Society president Sybil Geller by the Legion's Ontario Command president Bill Smith, was the 'result of fund raising efforts undertaken by Ontario's 452 branches. "Reaction to the tornado disaster was quick," says Smith. "Within days;, a disaster fund was established and branch- es, were sponsoring bazaars, dances and barbecues to raise funds. We even received a boost froth legionnaires in B.C. who were holding their convention at that , time. Minutes after they were alerted to the emergency situation in Ontario, $4,500 was raised on the convention floor." "Response from the Legion has been tremendous," says Geller. "This donation, which represents the single largest contri- bution to the fund, will go a long way towards restoring homes and Properties in the stricken communities." The. Royal Canadian Legion, currently celebrating its Diamond Jubilee, has a history of responding with financial assist- ance to communities in distress including past disasters in Ontario, such as the Cobalt fire in 1977, the Woodstock tornado and Fieldspringer flood in 1982. 4