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June 5, 2009
Making History Today
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The following are some of the current
and pending history making events in the Community
Voices area
For the Love of Flying
Airplanes are an important part of
life in the north -past and present. The Laurentian
Air Service, out of Ottawa, was one of the most
innovative and successful of the Norths aviation
businesses for 60 years. A new book For the Love of Flying by Danielle
Metcalfe-Chenail
,an up and coming young author, is hot off the press.
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For the love of Flying – new book
on the Laurentian Air Services |
Danielle visited Discovery North Bay
in North Bay earlier this
week to talk about the book and sign copies. It is a full look at the
company with many interviews and 220 black and white photographs.
($30.95). The museum with its displays of planes was
the perfect place for the visit.
Laurentian
was founded in 1936 and was heavily involved in air tourism in the Ottawa and
Laurentian area. It pioneered the Grumman G-21 and
deHaviland Beaver and served major projects like the
Churchill Falls and James Bay hydroelectric projects.
There is an interesting connection
with North Bay-the famous Captains of the
Clouds movie which was shot partly in the North Bay area. Warner Brothers
leased one of Laurentians bi-planes in 1941 and it
was an important part of the movie. Local aviation
historian Rudy Mauro is referenced in the book as are the articles I
wrote on the movie. North Bay was one stop on a tour by the author. The book
will be available in libraries, bookstores, and the museum.
I was pleased to be able to show and
talk about my new book on Canada’s First Black
Mayor: Dr. S.F. Monestime at the same event. Copies of the
Monestime book are available at the museum and elsewhere in North Bay and
Mattawa, or online.
Mattawa
Museum Celebrates 25th on June 13th
The
Mattawa Museum is celebrating its 25th anniversary on Saturday June
13 at the Museum. The anniversary is combined with Mattawa’s 125th
and the OPP’s 100th anniversaries.
Maurice Nadon the former Commissioner of the RCMP
who grew up in Mattawa will have a display unveiled as well with many family
members present.
After the Nadon
unveiling the activity will shift to the stage at the back of the Museum where
dignitaries will speak prior to outdoor activities.
OPP dogs will be performing along with, among other things
,a pipe band and an antique 1956 OPP cruiser. Refreshments will be
served. The Nadons will gather for a family event at
the Moon Café after the event. For a profile of Maurice
Nadon see my September 10, 2004 column “Canada’s Top Cop was From
Mattawa” .
Aboriginal Awareness
There was a full 3 day Aboriginal
Week celebration in Ottawa May 19-22. The
event was started in 1992 to increase aboriginal awareness especially among
federal public service employees.
In
North Bay the Niijii
Circle of the Initiative in Public Education by the Union of Ontario Indians
have many ongoing activities listed in their Saturday
page in the North Bay Nugget. The May 23 issue profiles the June 11 Residential
School Day of Reconciliation – the first anniversary of Canada’s apology for the
treatment of children, parents and families as a result of the Residential
Schools. Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil
Fontaine will be in Ottawa and there will be other events elsewhere. The Ottawa
gathering will begin at sunrise on Victoria Island where there will be a program
followed by a March to Parliament Hill . Look for
local activity in your area.
Nipissing First Nation Events
A spring Pow-Wow
and Cross Cultural Celebration will take place in
North Bay June 19-21 with the Pow-Wow
in Memorial Gardens Saturday at 1:00 and 7:00 and Sunday at 1:00pm. For
information contact Kirby Mianscum 705-472-2811
extension 202 (see poster)
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Poster for
North Bay First Nations Celebration |
Cross Cultural Workshops will take
place prior to the Pow Wow at the North Bay Indian
Friendship Centre on June 19. The workshops will profile traditional teachings
for children, students and service providers. Contact Maurice Switzer at
705-497-9172 ext 2272 Email swimau@anishnabek.ca
Temagami
Gathering
Temagami
has a large event on the same dates as above with lots of
Anishnabe content along with other Temagami
historical and other presentations on the arts and culture of the area. Google
The Temagami Gathering or
log on to
www.communityartsontario.ca/temagamiprogram for full details.
Mattawa
Unity Week
Mattawa has an Aboriginal Week from
June 21 to 27 on Explorer’s Point. The North Bay Mattawa Algonquin First
Nations,the Antoine First
Nations and the Women’s Resource Centre have organized the event with the
cooperation of many others. The Aboriginal Component includes a sacred fire
which will burn all week and memories of ancestors can be recalled by burning a
stick in the fire. There will be a tepee, displays, music, dancers, food, etc.
It is expected to be the largest gathering of aboriginal people on the point in
current history. Everyone is welcome. For more information
log on to the Mattawa Unity Week or call Charlene
Guilbeault at 705-744-5567 or 744-3962.
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