Lakeshore Advance, 2013-04-03, Page 6Community
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Grand Bend WI Grand Bend Women's Probus welcome Lessard
GBW1 Book Club met on March 28 at
the Grand Bend Library to discuss
books that most amen wouldn't read. It
was noted that most men would read
war stories, mystery books, or biogra-
phies. Men read for pleasure and to
relax. Farm papers, sports magazines,
financial and business papers are read
by many men who don't read books.
Several authors were discussed
whose works would appeal to the male
reader. Of interest to our group were
.''o television shows on OLN. Yukon
bld and Wild Things are produced by
Barb Kilback's son.
Our next book club meeting is May 9
at 2pm at the Grand Bend Library. At
this time books written by Canadian
authors will be reviewed. Everyone is
welcome to Join in our discussions.
Bluewater Biz
Mark Cassidy
111 admit you're wrong if you
admit I'm right. A group of protes-
tors were gathered in front of the
building and the guy ahead of me
said to no one in particular that
he felt like he was crossing a
picket line. It was tense. It
occurred to me we all have an
incredible ability to see others as
enemies who don't see some-
thing the way we do. And what
'l has this got to do with economic
development in Bluewater you
may ask? Well everything and
nothing. Inside the building the
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
was laying out its priorities for
Ontario's future prosperity.
Things like fostering a culture of
innovation; building a 21st cen-
tury workforce; and restoring fis-
cal balance. All good stuff. Still I
couldn't help wishing that some-
one would address the "elephant
in the room" -- a growing polari-
zation in society. It's not just
political leaders who are at odds,
its families, communities, and
just about anywhere two or three
people gather in one place. Sure
we live in a very complex world
yet if we all try to remember that
there is something bigger than
ourselves and our particular
cause it would help. We're all in
this together.
Grand Bend Women's
Probus welcomed Casey
Lessard to their March
meeting to speak on his year
in Nunavut working with the
local community newspa-
per, Nunavut News/ North,
in lyaluit, a town of 7,000 in
a territory of 33,000. Casey
and his family were pro-
vided with a one bedroom
apartment, car and salary.
Anjhela, his partner, worked
as a supply teacher at the
local elementary and sec-
ondary schools and also
worked as an intake worker
at the women's shelter and
women's homeless shelter.
Casey and Anjhela had a
baby, Iris, born while living
in lqaluit.
Transportation, Casey
informed the ladies, is by
boat or plane which creates
an expensive cost of living.
Everyone lives on the coast
which allows for fishing,
hunting and whaling, but
with government quota
restrictions. Much of the
food is flown in or brought
by water, doubling the price.
Casey commented that
nutritious food can be sub-
sidised by the government
to encourage healthy living
but not all care to eat this
food. Seventy percent of the
children live in homes with
not enough food and food
banks are used frequently.
Paper products are
expensive, disposable dia-
pers a dollar apiece.
A major problem in the
northern regions is the build
up of waste materials cre-
ated by all the products
brought into the area as well
as the materials left by the
installation of Norad years
ago. Unfortunately, due to
shipping costs, anything
brought in seems to remain
there creating piles of
refuse.
Casey was informed by a
local that in isolated com-
munities twenty percent of
the population is working,
mostly government jobs,
while the remainder receive
government assistance, cre-
ating a system where fami-
lies share within the com-
munity. Life is difficult with
half the population under
the age of twenty-five. Many
die at a young age with any
of the elders being respected
and the very old revered,
which would be it sixty or
seventy year old. Families
are often started in the teen
years.
Temperatures are typi-
cally -35C or when cold,
-50(; without the wind chill
factor and the days in sum-
mer are typically 10(; or on it
"hot" day 22(;, with winter
daylight between nine and
two o'clock. Canada loose
jackets are quite sufficient
for the cold.
Casey Lessard with the Nunavut News/North on the screen
Some of the myths Casey mentioned
were that there are no igloos or sod
huts, although there was very old lady
living in one, and that clog sledding is a
hobby now with A'TV's taking over for
transport to hunt and fish.
Substance abuse with alcohol and
drugs, along with domestic abuse are
the highest in Canada. No treatment
facilities are available, jails are over-
filled, and the suicide rate is the high-
est in the country. Smoking is expen-
sive at sixteen dollars a package with
fifty percent of the population smoking
as indicated by government statisics.
Casey mentioned he was fortunate
to attend the Arctic Winter Games and
accompanied Santa allowing him to
see seventeen communities in the
North. His experience in this part of
Canada was most interesting and gave
us insight to the native population in
Nunavut.
'she next (rand items 1Vonten's Pro -
bus will meet at the Legion, 'rues.,
April 9th, 9:30 ant.
'l'opic- Your (;ltch, Your Voice, Your
Future. All are welcome.
IThe Legacy Youth Hockey League is an In-house hockey league at the Legacy Center In Thedford. It was started by Randy Shaw and provides an affordable
hockey league that all can enjoy.