H Se oem He “the city. A Transplanted Vancouverite by Shaaron Schielke In my real life, person. To the core. ver city person if you want to type-cast. I am convinced that a person can attain his full quota of outdoorsiness by going to Stanley Park or taking a_ stroll along the sea wall. I do long for the wide, open spaces or the quiet solitude that Mother Nature abounds with. I love shopping Robson Street style. I feel it is my right to be able to yun out at all hours to a corner store; pick up the phone and order dinner; or, for that mat- ter, just go to a movie. Fellow city lovers can empa- thize, I'm sure, with the dismay I felt when I found myself trans- planted, through no fault of my own, to Cassiar - a small, north- ern mining town close to the Yukon border. While my husband, enjoys the amenities of city life, it is not etched in stone somewhere that he must live in My husband is flex- ible. My husband adapts easily. I, on the other hand, do not. Not easily. This wonderful man arrived home one night last June with a bottle of champagne in one hand and a road map in the other. He then proceeded to introduce a new word into my vocabulary: Cassiar. A feeling of dread spread over me and, since I had no idea where this place was, I felt I Should ask. Maybe it's not going to be as bad as I think. Maybe pigs will fly. "Ignorance is bliss" is an old saying that was never more true than at that very moment ! Wonderful Man map and pointed, smiling, "There it is!" It's almost on the Yukon border! In the middle of no- bloody-where! think Wonderful Man has lost grip! He explained that he'd been offered a two-year contract up there and it would be a good career move. So...we pack a half-ton truck with bedding, clothes and dishes; bid a_ fond farewell to family and friends, ensure Higgins the cat is all settled in the cab of the truck and we're ready! As we blithely drove off into the Great Unknown I began to look upon the whole trip as some great and wonderful adventure. Even the cat quit howling by the second day! My euphoria was short-lived as we drove north- ward, ever northward. Settle- ments, or for that matter, any Sign of life were further and further apart. Three hundred kilometres of -very - dusty, very rough ‘gravel ‘roads ‘did tittle ‘to I ama city A Vancou- Larry, unfolded the his Page 16 Cassiar Courier October 1989 not. I'm beginning to lift my spirits. Still we drove northward. On the afternoon of the third day we reached the Cassiar junction. We'd been driving for miles and miles through untouched wilderness and, while the scenery was beautiful, I felt it would be a nice touch if we would occa- sionally see a house or a road Sign —- even the sight of another car on the road would be comfort- ing. Now we were to turn off this “highway" and drive another twenty kilometers into the scenic wilderness. I felt as though I were stuck in the plot of a very bad movie. At last we entered the fair city of Cassiar. Past the huge Slag heap that overlooks the entrance to the town, past the ominous looking buildings where the ore from the mine is process- ed and onto the main street. The downtown core gives new meaning to the words bleak and dismal. To the right, an abandoned the- atre and the local post office; to the left, the liquor store and the store, aptly named Shopping Centre". an R.C.M.P. office, phone in town anda couple of bunkhouses. We have arrived mid- afternoon on a Sunday - there's not a soul onthe street, not even a stray dog. The place is like a ghost town - dead silence that's broken only by the occa- Sional gust of wind blowing dust around a corner. This is my new home?? I knew it wouldn't be a thriving metropolis, but this?? I really don't want to do this! The tears start and the cat starts howling again as if to let me Know that I'm not alone in my misery. We were both fortunate, the cat and I, compassionate a4 man as he is. Anyone else would have abandoned us right there. True to Cassiar form, there were one or two mix-ups and, as a result, we spent a week living in a bunkhouse. We were the only occupants of the building and I There is also the only pay couldn't help but think of the movie "The Shining". “Honey, I'm home!" Eventually all the mix- ups were straightened out = Northern time is not unlike Mexican time. No one rushes - this is very hard for a Vancou- verite to adjust to. City people always rush - it's a way of life. Our new home is an early '70s mobile home - decorated in early '70sS avacado green and gold. But it was clean and we have a nice, fenced yard sc all in all, it's not half bad. A long-time resident of Cassiar provided us with this bit of philosophy: "You never say anything's good up here, you only say it's not half bad." It makes sense, but I think you have _ to live here to really understand. Kinda like the old "you had to be there" jokes. On the first of June we still had snow in our yard - but only on one side of the trailer so that was okay. My daffodils and crocuses were just beginning to bloom, whereas everywhere else in the world they had finished but that was okay too because I wasn't even sure they'd bloom at all given the long, harsh winters we have up here - October to May is a long, harsh winter. We had yf£ifteen feet of snow last winter ‘and “temperatures went - downto ‘rainy winters I'd known in "Cassiar softening my that Larry is as camraderie minus forty degrees. We didn't see the sun from December to February. This was a far cry from the Van- everything in far cry from what I'd known in Vancouver. It was during this time when I was feeling incredibly homesick for life as I'd once known it, that someone told me the biggest advantage to living in the North is that you can do or be anything you want. At that point in time, all I wanted to do was to be back in Vancouver but, later on, I realized she was right. I'm up here for two years - I can either pout and bitch and carry on and have a perfectly miserable time or I can use these two years to my benefit. The editor of the paper was looking for a person who could spell and type - some- one told him I wasn't working and now I'm on the staff of the Cassiar Courier. - It's not the Globe & Mail, but I'm enjoying it and I. have the opportunity to write which is something I've always wanted to try my hand at. I was dragged kicking and screaming, figuratively speaking, up north and I fought against attitude towards this country, but it gets to you. Slowly. When I leave, I'll be taking a little bit of the North and it's attitude with me and I think I'll be a better person for Les couver but then Cassiar was a local Larry and I bought a. canoe and are going to explore some of this northern country. this summer - it's daylight until 11:00 p.m., so we'll have lots of time. There are many beautiful little lakes around this area and it's an incredible feeling to find that we're the only ones’ there. It's almost like having your private park. I'm still a city person at heart and always will be - if I were given the chance to move back to Vancouver tomorrow, I'd be packed and gone. The differ- ence from the city person of a year ago is that now I'd leave with a few regrets I'd miss the people of the North who are some of the friendliest and kindest people I've ever met; I'd miss the ravens and their strange language; I'd miss my brave little flower garden, blooming against such odds; I'd miss the feeling of belonging - of knowing people wherever you go - of the and the sense that we're all in this together. And I'd ‘miss the look that comes close to admiration when you go "out" and tell someone in the sourthern part of the province where you live. Even if they have absolutely no desire to go there, the North holds a mysti- que; and captures one's imagin- ation. Anyone who lives there is set apart a little from those who don't. We're Northerners. We put up with the cold, the dark- ness, the isolation. We don't have the amenities of city life but we survive quite happily, most of the time. We make the best of what we have and we don't worry about the rest. own — Fa Page 17 Cassiar Courier October 198 cn It is with great joy that Edwin and Maureen Bauer. announce that God has blessed them with the birth of a daughter. RACHEL MAUREEN BAUER was born Friday, June 23, 1989 at Grace Hospital in Vancouver Big brother Marcus is very fond of his new sister! ap Graham and Diane on August 11, Born to Overton of Cassiar, 1989, a girl, Nicole Anne, weigh- ing 8 lb. 14 oz. Grandparents are Gene and Mickey Overton of Cassiar; and Emile and Jeannine Martineau of 'LaFleche, Sask. Great-Grandparents are Mrs. Stewart of Cassiar; Mrs. Marie Martineau, Assiniboia, Sask.; and Mr. Alfred Clermont of Assiniboia. oc Anne Roses to the people who cut the cemetary lawn. It looks wonderful. Keep up the good work! Lisa, Wally and Dane FAMILY Emergencies. a” 2 Eien = Dr. John Hurlburt, M.D. Is Pleased To Announce The Opening Of His Practice In AT CASSIAR HOSPITAL. Playschool Aide Required Cassiar Cooperative school requires an aide ately. The successful will be required to work Six hours per week. candidate minimu Closing date for applications is] October 23rd, 1989. Primary duties consist of assisting the supervisor preparing and carrying out- daily activities and } the supervisor with clean-up of the playschool room. Ideal qualifications will include: the candidate must be} minimum 18 years o£ age, previous experience in working with preschool children and bef able to work cooperatively and| effectively with the supervisor, parents and playschool executive. Interested candidates forward a resume outlining | experience and qualifications to: | Mrs. Elaine Pirie, President} Box 133 i Cassiar, B. C. VOC 1E0 Closing date for application is October 23rd, 1989. - Down With Chuck ! By Brenda Brown The cartoon show "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" should be abolished. Many young children develop ideas of society and ways of life through television... They are influenced by characters in cartoons and look at them as role models. "A Boy Named Charlie Brown". could easily be considered a~- bad influence on children. Charlie Brown is always down on himself throughout the movie. He has no self-confidence and is very. in- secure. Linus always carries around a raggedy old blanket and ‘sucks his thumb which gives Children the idea that acting babyish is acceptable. Lucy is a loud-mouthed character who likes to have her own way. She is bossy, selfish and rude. These Cartoon Characters are not the sort of role models children should have. Who wants to look up to someone who asks a beagle for advice? : The abolition of "A Named Charlie wise decision. Boy Brown might be a Future programs could then be directed towards more poSitive characters, rather than negative ones. MEDICINE “Appointments _ Wane 2 778-7234 y Minor Hoc key Alaa Johnston | Cassiar Minor Hockey will be starting the 1989/90 season Octo- ber 10, 1989. The following is a list of possible divisions depen- ding on enrolment: ages 6 - 9 Novice A Atoms ages 10 - 11 Pee Wee ages 12 - 13 Bantam/Midget ages 14 - 18 Minor Hockey depends on volunteers to operate effic- iently. Support from hockey parents and the community will make this year a success. have any questions or ideas’ con- cerning hockey, please attend the general meeting October 5, 1989 at the Upper Leisure Room at the Community Club. If you are un- able to attend this meeting please contact one of the execu- tive members. Thank you. If you President Allan Johnston . 7178-7453 Vice-President Wenndee Quinn 778-7580 Treasurer Barb Manderson 7178-7296 Secretary Leslie Johnston 7178-7453 Chris Gleason 778-7722 Equipment Mgr. Ways & Means Marg Whalen 778-7584 and Nancy Gleason 778-7722 Mike Landucci 7178-7826 Head Coach Registrar Phyllis Hardy 778-7251 WV, Minor Hockey Practices 89/90 Tentative Schedule NOVICE: Tuesday yA a oc ae Rabi: Wednesday Sool See ere lS Friday Gee hielo, ATOMS: Tuesday Tee =a eel Wednesday {écalssy Pee ahaa Fridav Wi Palla i Sie) Rab PEE WEE: Monday AG RIES SPSS Wednesday $307 = 69), 30 Friday | 8 S029) 3 0 BANTAM/MIDGET Monday SEES eaesoieelio Wednesday 8:30 - 9:30 Friday BSS Out Fines 0 Friday evening practices will be for warm-up and scrim- mages. All parents and specta- tors are ..encouraged to,, attend. . « = 1 Minor hockey needs, your, support!