Vol . 14, No. 4 .

Decem'::>er, 1955

George M a inwaring Editor

did not understand what it was all about, but when a crowd gathered he was always there. So now Twinkle tagged along. Christmas Story Their mission performed, the angels started back to Heaven. But Twinkle was a curious little fellow and he wanted to see what this was which the T WINKLE was a mischievous angels were so excited about. So he decided to find little angel who loved to out. Instead of returning with his friends, he fol- play in the streets of Heaven. lowed the shepherds who were going to investigate There w e r e m a n y happy the news the angels had brought. cherubs there, but Twinkle Twinkle saw the shepherds go into a near-by had a bubbling boyishness, town and then into a stable. A little frightened by whic'h made him popular with these dark and unfamiliar surroundings, .Twinkle his friends. There was a glint kept out of sight. of playfulness in his eyes Then very quietly Twinkle tiptoed over to the which won him his name. He door of the stable, gently pushed it open and was known occasionally to stepped inside without a sound. At first he was play tricks that disturbed puzzled. What was so wonderful about this? Just some of the older and more a woman holding something in her arms. She sedate angels. Sometimes at a looked up and saw this chubby little angel standing serious moment he would lift t•here. Partly through embarrassment and partly his eyes and wink at some because he was the kind of angel he was, Twinkle sober, elderly angel who, in winked at the woman. She smiled-a gracious, spite of himself, could not help gentle smile it was, that encouraged him; so he smiling back at the little came closer and then he saw the little baby in her fellow with his downy wings. arms-the most beautiful little babe that Twinkle Twinkle had a lovely little had ever seen, so helpless but so dear. The twinkle silver halo which he usually in the little angel's eyes brightened. He reached wore tilted a bit to one side- up to his silver halo-it was tilted on the side, as as no proper angel should. usual-and took it off and, reaching out, placed it on the head of the babe. Again the child's mother One day word went around smiled, in gratitude. She reached out her hand to Heaven that a great event was touch Twinkle, but he, startled by his daring, turned to occur on a distant star and fled into the night. called "the earth" and that a He was out of breath and his wings were worn company of angels was going when he finally reached the gates of Heaven. on a journQy to celebrate this important occasion. Twinkle Hearing his clamor for admission, St. Peter opened the portal and greeted him with a stern re- proof. "Twinkle, where have you been? And what have you done with your halo? Have you got into trouble again?" Twinkle slipped in without answer- Published quarterly at Flin Flon . ing. But the story soon spread and everyone Manitoba, by Hudson Bay Mining & Smelting Co., Limited. wondered how Twinkle had lost his lovely silver Printed by Tlte Wallingford Press Ltd., halo. Such misbehavior as this must be brought 303 Ken nedy St., W innipeg 2. to the attention of the good Father who ruled in Engraving by BTigden's Ltd., Winnipeg. Heaven. So when all the celestial company was Authorized as second class mail, Post (Continued on page 26) Office Dept., Ottawa. 1 Mine Bob Ash

F OR every man on thte Underground pay- roll actually mining there are at least half-dozen doing other jobs. These men might be repairing, supervising, caretaking, Frank Hurta and Gil McCracken framing sprags. timbering, hoisting. On a morning's trip one would run into quite a few of these men, as we did on a recent trip, doing jobs like this. About fifteen men were rebuild- ing the Main North Main Shaft ore bin, which after 25 years of service had deteri- orated to such a point that it was on the verge of collapse. This bin is 30 feet in diameter, 45 feet high, fabricated from steel angles and %" boiler plate and lined with 8" x 8" timbers. To give you an idea of the size of this job, over 1,500 pounds of rivets were used to rivet the repair plates together. It took four weeks to com- Fred Zwarich, Wilt Trudeau, Morel Ram$tead and Martin B rolund standing on top of the N01·t1t Main Shaft ore bins. plete. The bin holds over 2,000 tons of ore when full. Some of the men we saw work- ing around were Martin Brolund, Morel Ramstead, Louis Tusz, Wilf Trudeau, Micky Genyk, Johnnie Pozniak, Howard Whitmore, Ralph Borchardt, Fred Swarich. Len Wiebe, Joe Tresnich and Mike Matko, plus Thor Grant and Ernie Mooney doing the supervising. Around 125,000 lineal feet of sprags are used in the Mine during a year. These are cut along the flux line and delivered as needed. Quite a few of these sprags are used in cribbing operations, which means that they have to be framed. Gil Mc- Cracken and Frank Hurta were the men Andy Tokar and Luka Obradovich making spacers. with axes and saws the day we were look- ing around. Another wood job is the mak- Gus W olden shining up the Mine sedcms. ing of spacers. These are about %" square, 12" long, and are used as fillers when load- ing a hole with powder. Around 2,000 are used every day. These are made out of scrap timbers and Andy Tokar is the man who does most of the sawing. Changing main hoist cables is a job you will not see every day as they usually last from a minimum of two years to a maxi- 2 mum of four years, but we did watch them change the North Main Shaft counter- balance wire rope on our trip around. This rope is the smallest of all our Main Mine hoist ropes, it being llh" in diameter, 2,700 feet long, and weighs 4.20 pounds per foot and has a breaking load of about 105 tons. The procedure for changing a rope is fairly simple. The counterbalance is bulkheaded Mike Matko and J oe T resnich cutting timbers. in the shaft at surface and the cage at the 1,690 level, clamps removed and used cable is coiled as it is released from hoist on a jacked-up reel. The method of putting the new rope on is to attach a light rope to end of new cable, pull it up the shaft, over the sheave wheel and into the hoist drum, where it is attached and coiled on drum. Men seen working on this job were Andy Jacobson, Wilf Camsell, Joe Cooper and Neil McKinnon. A few of our other men we saw on odd jobs were Bob Donald, Charlie Johnson and Bill Bazylewski working in the Steel Shop. Alf Highfield, Russ Eagle, Mike G eor ge Lyons, Paul R ozek and Charlie Boyko and Earl Garinger repairing drills. D unbar outside the oil shed. Bill Folwark and Max Yaroshewich were handing out supplies. Walter McAdoo, Vic McBride, "Doc" Peterson and Lloyd Clarkson are working as stationary engineers looking after the boilers and compressors at North Star. Oscar Branson, Gordon Grindle and Jim Gallant do the hoisting at Schist Lake. Angus Mullaney, mine timberman, Fred Robinson does electrical repair work feeds his grandson. at Birdh Lake, with dozens of other fellows on miscellaneous jobs related to but not direct mining. The Mine are again sponsoring a team in the Inter-Departmental Hockey League...... Arnold Thompson is the coach. If you have . . . . . a spare evening come down to the rink and do a little cheering for your team. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

Ted Siluko/J, one of Getting a man in his twenties is as easy our underground hoistmen, ready for as throwing a rope around a work horse: a day at the lake. In his thirties, it's like lassoing a bronco. 3 f .:..... : . .. . ' . ' .

Dear Comrades and Friends: . . On behalf of the Executive of Branch No. 73 may . extend sincere greetings and best wishes for the . festive season . . . . + To our Comrades confined in hospitals and homes, a special greeting .. . may the true meaning of Christmas lift your heart with courage, and bring you and yours renewed spiritual strength for the new year. : We do not forget - we con not forget - those . whose sacrifice made it possible for the Spirit of Christmas to roam free throughout the world. With- . . out that sacrifice there would be no "Merry Christ- . . . mas." "At the going down of the sun and in the morn- . . ing"- and on Christmas Day- ''we will remember . them."

LEN H. WIEBE, President Fl in Flon Branch No. 73

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...... : . .: : . ..: . . . . C. C. Setterington

WONDER WHY ... blazed a path to freedom over the British there is such a small attendance at th e Isles that is not forgotten today. Sunday, regular general monthly meetings? September 18, the R.C.A.F. commemorated At this time the Membership stands at the 15th anniversary of the Battle of 724 and at the October general meeting Britain, the fateful fray when airmen of there were 35 present, including one visi- the free world crossed aerial swords with tor. That's less than 5% of our member- Germany's vast armada, the Luftwaffe. ship. Not very many interested members Serving with the R.C.A.F. and R.A.F. 47 to discuss and handle the affairs of our Canadians gave their lives in the Battle of organization, is it? After all, the general Britain. Those never-to-be-forgotten air- meeting is the place to let loose your craft, the Hawker Hurricanes and Spitfires, moans, groans, beefs, squawks, etc., if any. were the mainstay of the Fighter Com- The way our Branch now stands, Legion mand. business is big business and warrants a AS OTHERS SEE US (The Calgary A l- greater interest from the membership as bertan)- a whole. It must be rather discouraging for The Canadian Legion is the one service your elected officers to see so few present. organization which learned a lesson, and Why not decide to take in the next (Cont inued on page 27 ) General Meeting? APPOINTMENT-Ron Jones is our new Secretary-Treasurer-Manager. If you don't know Ron too well, drop in some time at fGant Jnnt the Hall and you will find him set up in Cpl. ALBERT BARTON WEST business in the Legion office. Ron came to Flin Flon in 1936, is married R.C.A.F. WW 2 and has four children. He saw service in Born Jan. 21 , 1903 the R.C.A.F. in the last unpleasantness. Died Oct. 4, 1955 * * * Another big Social Club evening is planned for Vhe W e d n e s d a y before Christmas. Fifty fat turkeys are the D ecoration D ay P arad e. prizes and there is sure to be a bumper crowd present. Why not drop around to the Hall on the evening of Dec. 21st and maybe you will be fortunate enough to t ake home your Christmas dinner with you. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all. NOT FORGOTTEN - During the dark days of 1940, a handful of fighter pilots Mill Ken Reader

T HE summer months are behind us once again, but there are a few autumn items we will mention at this time. Winners in the "Fish Derby" have been announced: Joe Gurba had the largest trout, weighing 26 lbs. 6lh ozs.; Ted Farr M r . and M rs. E rnie J ebsen had the largest Northern Pike, weighing --- 18 lbs. 8 oz.; while Chuck Brown hooked a pickerel weighing 5 lbs. 8 oz. During the month of September Laurie and Mrs. Gibney motored to the sunny climate of California. Laurie reports a very nice trip, returning to Canada via the West Coast. A similar trip was taken by Del and Betty Byers and George and Lor- raine Mcintosh. They returned via Regina and Weyburn, Saskatchewan, where they visited Del's folks and also did a bit of duck shooting. Bill Brew and family jour- neyed to Winnipeg, where they visited his daughter Faye, who is in training to be a nurse. Bill also visited his old stamping- grounds around Melfort, Saskatchewan. Chuck and Mrs. Brown drove south to Kansas City, where Chuck enjoyed some major league baseball. Other highlights of this trip we do not know because Chuck was so enthused about the baseball. Charlie Clark and family will be leaving Mr. and Mrs. Frank B urke us on the 18th of November. Charlie is re- turning to his homeland of New Zealand to go into t he dairy business with his father and brother Barry, formerly of the MilL Good luck to you and yours, Charlie, on your return home. Don and Germaine Randell h ave left us for the plains of sunny Alberta. Germaine has a job in the offices of the refining company and Don is in the Research Lab. Good luck to you both in your future in the west. Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Louis Webber on the birth of a daughter, Octo- ber 5th. That's four girls, isn't it, Lou? Congratulations also to Mr. and Mrs. Doug 6 McKenzie on the birth of a son, October 16t!h. The annual Mill picnic was held at Cran- Flotation Crew- T ed Chester, John Hume, Hugh Munroe, berry Portage in August under the spon- PauL RiLey. sorship of the Mill Rec Club. No less than five Millers have made the trip to the altar recently. Lee Fisher and Geraldine Costigan were married on August 12th; Tom Baird and Delores Gillies signed the pledge on August 17th; Frank Burke and Sybil Lowe were married on September 9th in Winnipeg; Ernie Jeb- sen and Nellie Galay were married on the Cyanide Crew-K en Reader, BilL Kirkwood, Jerry B racken, 10Vh of September; Jack Scott and Helen J im Ingram. Lengyel were married on September 17th. Helen is the eldest daughter of John Leng- yel of the Crusher. Congratulations and best wishes to you all. The Mill Dynamos of the Inter-Depart- mental Hockey League have been working out and should be favorites to retain the league championship. The team 'has lost the services of Don Randell but have signed up former Bomber "Slapshot" Red Mill Carpenter Gang. McRae, who should make things very un- comfortable for opposing goalkeepers. The Mill Rec Club held its annual meet- ing on Saturday, October 22nd, in the Willowvale Curling rink. Election of officers for the coming year took place, with Neil Adam succeeding Ernie Young as president. Joe Gurba was elected as vice-president, and Del Byers as secretary- treasurer. The new members of the exe- Pilot PLant Crew-Roy Coulter, Orville Cyanide Crew-Harvey Snelgrove, Lyle Whitebread. Scott, Harold PiLlar. cutive are: Eddie Gee, George Mcintosh and Pete Phillips. Past-president Ernie Young will also serve on the executive in an advisory capacity. A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all from the Millers.

Cyanide Crew-Bill Snyder, Red McRae, Bob Marshal!, EXCURSION RATE? Ray Quinn.

A Scotsman went to a riding academy Mill Machine Shop- L . Gibney, S. Soanes, C. Brown, B . Wickens, and said, "I wish to rent a horse." The G . Lockltm·t. proprietor asked, "How long?" "The long- est you have," said the Scot, "there will be five of us going." 7 Zinc Plant Bernard Reagan

Casting Plant Crew. THE Social and Recreational Club had the Zinc Plant Bowling League rolling on October 2nd, with sixteen teams entered for competition. J. Elko bowled a 412 game, which is the closest known perfect game bowled in this part of the country. The Social •and Recreation Club plan to have a social evening in the nature of a mixed smoker some time before the end of the year. Trudy Cowing and Ear l Watson. In the Fishing Contest sponsored by the Social and Recreational Club, Mike Sala- mandra won the prize for both the largest Jack Fish and also for the largest fish of the season. Ken Klause won the prize for t'he largest pickerel. There were no trout entered. The Zinc Plant Hockey Club played and won their first game of the season on October 24th. They won over the Smelter,

P eter Mann and Juu ! N eilsen. 10-0. It looks as though the Zinc Plant boys, under the able coaching of Len Vander Wal, may clean up everything in their path this season. Congratulations are in order for Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Campbell, for a girl born on October 17th; Mr. and Mrs. Jim Reagan, a girl born on August 27th; and Mr. and Mrs. Roy Ellerman, a boy born on October 9th. It seems as though the girls have a little advantage there. Loading Crew Casting Plant. Congratulations to H. Eagle, Red Nelson, Mr. and M rs. "R ed" N elson were married October 22nd. Les Quesnel, B. Perkins and H. Thompson on their recent marriages. As this issue will be distributed and read around the festive season, we take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Hotel Manager: "Did you find any towels in that Sailor's suitcase?" Detective: "No but I found a chamber- maid in his grip." 8 Camera Club Edga r Grandison IT is said a picture can be unquestion- able evidence of an event. This is not necessarily so unless attention is given to those parts to which trickery cannot be applied. Many curious and trick things can be done with pictures and very often it takes quite an expert to spot these un- reasonable things. the many alterations that can be made to a photograph there is cropping (simply cutting down a picture on any or all sides and enlarging to make the effect desired), there is retouching or sketching which is done mostly on the negative or to some intermediate between it and the pic- ture, there is the actual cutting out and building up of separate parts to compose something very different from the actual, and there are many ways of multiple ex- posing. These are roughly the principal ways trick photographs can be made, but there are others limited only by the in- genuity of the maker. Our members have, from time to time, tried to make trick pictures and we are showing here a few samples of that work. It need hardly be said that anything of this nature can be done in our dark-room and therefore the limitation is only to that of our minds. We can make a lake trout as large •as a tuna fish and the man that catches it can be left half its size. But that is elementary and with a little imagination much more can be done. A good photo- grapher can make you think that you can- not believe your eyes. In regard to meetings, our club has been somewhat inactive all summer but the dark-room has been well used. We now have started up again with meetings and projects. November is the beginning of both membership year and of our most active time. At this time our club, all members, want to greet all readers with the most sincere wishes for a good Christmas and a very successful New Year.

9 L to R-ALvin SmuLand, Henry L to R-Leo Muench, L to R-R. (Bobby) A sh . Frank Jay, Ed WoLden, Van D e BeLt, HaroLd Jorgenson, SheryL SmaLe, Vic Cu!!en. Dennis Lindsay. M . Sturby, E. Boutteher. West Coast and also report mediocre crops out at the Birch River "project." Forrest Green, Earl Bulow, Bill Bottrell, Norm Riley, Bill Whitehead, Val Tessmer, Ted Bouteillier, Mike Dopater and George Henson all report making duck-shooting trips-no ducks. Any comparison between Smelter these armc'hair hunters and the real thing is coincidental. W. Phillips The proverbial stork has paid a visit to the Albert Feldman's (Jean Phyllis) and WHENEVER it is time to put all the to Mr. 'and Mrs. Angus Menzies (Joanne scraps of news together for this article, Laurel) and also to Mr. and Mrs. Stanley the most outstanding items about Smelter Zolinski (Stanley Stephen). activities centre around the "Rec" Club. Don McLaren and Orlie Johnson have So it is again. joined the ranks of the married, and w e The Smelter Rec Fishing Contest ended hope to have pictures for next issue. September 15th, with Charlie Gall, who Roy Balfour, who has been off work operates the Casting Wheel, taking the since the middle of August, is reported to prize for the largest Trout. The 18-pounder be getting along real well at Ninette. he caught in Aimee Lake on June 20th Ted Massey is reported to be down proved too big for any opposition. Yours Winnipeg way for a minor operation. truly captures the Rec Club's 10 bucks for Jack Allen, although he's still off work, a 5-lb. Pickerel, caught in Beaver Lake on keeps cheerful and has been able to get June 26th. As there were no en tries for the out on a couple of occasions. largest Jack, there was no prize awarded. New employees in the Smelter Depart- The Rec Club Executive tell me they ment are Shryl Smale, John Neilsen, will sponsor the Smelter hockey team this Dexter Jerome, Bob Terry, John Reimer, winter, and hope to continue with the Neil Graham, Lloyd Jackson, Steve Mak- Shift Square curling again, as well as waychuk, WladisJ.as Kluba, Vernon Row organize the Smelter Bonspiel. and Don Errington. Welcome to Depart- Superintendent Mast and Mrs. Mast re- ment 40, fellows! port having a nice vacation by air to the Merry Christmas one and all.

L to R- W aUy Altman, Mike Dopater, BiLL BottreL, Ron Enright.

D on Hogoboam (Reverb Shift Boss) George Henson (SmeLter Foreman) D an Forshaw, old -time machinist. Old-tim er A l Ball- Dodger tan. Bi!! Kutc h er marr ied B arbara J ean M cC!ug- han of SIepslta.n d2 n dFa!!s. Mechanical and Construction C. R. Delgatty

THIS department can look back on a busy year. Jobs that have been postponed, is, as usual, producing its quota of fine and current maintenance and repair have brass castings. taxed the department to capacity. One of Alex. McKenzie, carpenter, retired on the new jobs is the setting up of the sur- September 1. Alex. has been with us since face equipment and buildings at Corona- and, after a visit in is now tion Mine. The headframe and hoist house in Cranberry. Our best wishes go with thi3 are now complete. The hoist and com- good workman. pressors are installed and work is going Elvin Mullaney, who served his machinist forward on the change house, office, and apprenticeship here, has left to join Harvey other auxiliary buildings. When you drive Rutley and Paul Lockoff in Uranium City. to Coronation you see a marked difference Elvin was one of the brighter lights in the in the topography of the country. It is not shop, and he has our best wishes. Wally as rocky and rough, and seems more like Anderson, carpenter, is now in construc- the parklands of the northern prairies. A tion in Cranberry. Wally was very popular difference is seen also in the vegetation and in the construction department, being soil. active in community and organization The steel foundry is now experimenting work. Sid Harrison, mechanic, left for the on steel castings other than balls, and the West, and last reports say he is now work- future will show this to be quite an asset ing at Kimano, B.C. Sid was with us for to the replacement of worn parts. The four years, after serving in the armed brass foundry, having a lot of head start, (Cont inued on page 27)

J ohnny McAree, A l Storey, G arth H unter.

H erb Randell and Melvin Stubodd en. Electrical Department

Roy Kennedy

H erb K itchen, our new ElectricaL Dept. Supt. QN June 26th, we were shocked to hear that our quiet, unassuming friend, H el en L engyl married Jack Scott in Sept. James Haworth Whitworth, had been drowned in Lake Athapapuskow. He went fishing in a small boat which capsized in the rough water and, despite a very intense search, his body has not been recovered from the deep •and frigid waters of the large lake. Jim came to us in March, 1953, and was respected and liked by all. To his mother in England, and all his relatives and friends, we extend our deep and sin- cere sympathy. Summer time is holiday time, and, like everybody else, your reporter shied away from the factual pattern of daily life, so that if any news event is missing from this page we hope you will temper justice with mercy. We welcome home Jimmy Pickworth and family from their air trip to England. It is 31 years since Jim left his home town of Spalding, Lincolnshire. Two new apprentices joined t'he Depart- Summer wedding-Fred Craig t o D or a Gauthier. ment in July-Orral Watson Gilmore and Larry Alexander Kirby. Joe Chudy and Keith Smith, having enjoyed their summer's work ·at Island Falls, are back in the fold again as full-fledged Electricians. Congratulations, boys! Bob King returned from the "Trail of 98," and is again cutting capers on the high sticks with the rest of the Line Gang. Ed Taylorson, after a look at the supposedly green fields beyond the h orizon, came back to the Line Gang to keep Bob company in the noon-time ses- sion of the "Hot Wire League." Hugh Kerr and family left us to work for the Chrysler Corporation at Edmonton. We would like to thank Hughie and Mrs. Kerr for their splendid co-operation in community busi- ness and sports, a nd wish them success and happiness.

12 J ack A!exon, line gang foreman. Floyd Mooney. Fred Robinson.

That little fellow in the birthday suit August 24, 1955; Doris and Pat O'Neal, a was busy rounding up a few "strays," and son, David Pat-August 25, 1955; Vera and the old corral locked its gate on the wild Grenville Scott, a son, Wayne Calvin- and aimless wanderings of the following August 28, 1955; Nelle and Fred Hewitt, a "mavericks": Frederick W. Craig married son, Gerald Lyle-October 17, 1955. to Dora Gauthier on June 4, 1955; John A. Our heartiest congratulations to the Akert married Shirley Marion Trenouth, newly-weds and the proud parents. How August 10, 1955; and the Department's nice it is to close your eyes and anticipate sweetheart, Helen Lengyel, was married to the aroma of a good cigar. John M. Scott, of the Mill Department, on A few major changes have taken place September 17th, 1955. in the Departmental Supervision, and we The old stork has not been idle either. are happy to welcome, wit'h congratula- Born to: Evelyn and Benjamin Hoffer, a tions, the following appointments: Mr. son, Benjamin Dale-May 1, 1955; Vivian Herbert Kitchen-Electrical Supt.; Mr. and Alex Huston, a son, Thomas William- Gunnar Hammerstad - Asst. Electrical June 5, 1955; Lee and Joseph Kadas, a Supt.; Mr. Stuart Evans- Electrical Fore- daughter, Beverly Joan-June 6, 1955; man. Ken Finch, Harry Cross and Fred Dorothy and Hugh Kirkwood, a son, lain Robinson have been promoted to the posi- Alistair- July 9, 1955; Marguerite and tion of Mine Electrical Sub-Foremen. Hans Alex Oliphant, a son, Scott James-August Van Benthem is now Mine Electrical Fore- 2, 1955; Edna and Joseph Brettell, a son, man. Eugene Earle-August 23 , 1955; Ruth and Merry Christmas and a Happy New William Allbutt, a son, Clifford Charles, Year.

" Stewie" K irkland- working. Art Pettersen, Cliff Mclntyre and Alex H ryn. Stuart Evans and Supt. Herb K itchen. Suggestion System Willard Copeland

JN March of 1953 a Suggestion Plan was established for 125,000 Canadian federal AT the end of August we said "Good-bye" civil servants. Mr. H. A. B. McCracken to Mildred Harrison, who has been in who is the Executive Secretary of this ne~ the Ware house for the past six years. She Canadian Suggestion System, recently ad- went to join her husband, who is at present dressed the Civil Service Assembly of the working near Beardmore, Ont. September United States and Canada. His complete 9th, Sybil Lowe and Frank Burke were speech is too lengthy to reprint in this married in Winnipeg, and October 1st space, but his closing remarks are well Audrey Ayers and Delwyn Anderson, of worth quoting as they give an excellent Norquay, Sask., were married in Dauphin. answer to a question often asked. "Why To these happy couples we extend our do we have a Suggestion P lan and what heartiest congratulations. are its objectives?" "The Suggestion Plan method of getting Vacations are almost over-the various employees to constructively criticize opera- members having vacations since last heard tions with the assurance that senior ad- from have covered a wide area. Bill Lock- ministrators will listen to what they have h art at time of writing is in Rochester, N.Y. to say has been conclusively demonstrated Bob Dadson took a trip east and paid a visit to be one of the most valuable tools ad- to the Boy Scout Jamboree at Niagara-on- ministration has for stimulating the crea- the-Lake en route. Ejner Crone was to tive ability of its employees towards im- Winnipeg and Edmonton, and Chuck Hill proving operational procedures and increas- took a trip to Minot, S.D., and Winnipeg. ing efficiency and economy. Of even greater Arnold Nowasad visited with his parents value is the opportunity it provides em- in southern Manitoba. Nancy O'Neil is at ployees to share with department heads in present in the East and, while there, will an effort to improve methods and condi- attend her Mother and Dad's 50th Wedding tions relating to their own employment. It Anniversary in London, Ont. AI Warring- ton spent a vacation in Weyburn, Sask., (Continued on page 27) and reports plenty of good golf while there. A udrey Ayers w as m ar - Ray Mcinnis was to Penticton, B.C., and to D etwyn And er son in Oct ober. Jack Greenberg divided his vacation be- tween Winnipeg and Beaver Lake. Anne Dmytriw took a trip to Mammoth Hot Springs, and "Yours Truly" was to Van- couver and Calgary. Cal Berry has just re- turned from Winnipeg and enjoyed watch- ing the World Series on TV. . Ted Simpson has been with us the past t . . few months, and Jimmy Hillier, Sylva .. Plante and Tommy Holmes, who were here during the summer months, have left to return to school. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Warehouse .

14 Cafeteria r elaxing before the noon rush. Ready to serv e.

Mrs. Cutt is now on the dormitory staff, being transferred from the Cafeteria. You . Steward's Dept. lads in Dorm 1 should have some comfy beds made up these days. Ed Lomax + Charlie Marshall's surface crew are busy THE line-up of lovely girls you see ac- getting ready for winter-windows all companying this article are almost all sparkling clean and storm windows on newcomers to the Cafeteria Staff this ready for the long winter. summer; in fact, we issue a challenge to all We hear good things about the catering departments to beat them-aren't they just at Coronation Mine. Nice going, Carl; keep the best you've seen? They are all becom- it up. . .. ing extremely efficient in their various jobs. Since the last issue we welcome two more Various alterations are taking place in .. additions to our ladies in white: Bonnie the Cafeteri·a; washrooms for the public Mahan and Carolyn Wardle. use are being installed. Also the steam ., :. . At North Star Mine we welcome Gary table extended in one long line for more Manns, who is now employed in the efficient service. We again extend a cordial kitchen staff; also we hear by bush tele- invitation to all employees and their graph that Joe Bauhs, the chef out there, families to drop in for a meal. Take ad- is busy very, very determinedly stalking vantage of the clean, bright and comfort- moose, but the moose haven't co-operated able surroundings created for your bene- yet. Here's hoping we have a moose steak fit, so that you may relax and enjoy a good some day soon, Joe. meal under the best of conditions. At the Staff House, Mrs. Eagleton reports Also, may I, on behalf of the Cafeteria a very good time in Winnipeg on her holi- staff and the Stewards' Department, ex- days. Irene Bryke spent her vacation at tend our heartiest wishes for a Merry her home near Winnipeg. Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Stringer. Chef Baults built this lovely cabin himse lf. I nterior of Chef Bauhs' summer home. Flin Flon Air Cadet Squadron

F LIN FLON Air Cadet Squadron, No. 302, flight in a Beechcr,aft Expediter and were began its training year for 1955-56 on allowed to handle the controls. September 14th with a total strength of While at camp the boys were taken on 72 boys. Nineteen of these are new recruits. tours which included visits to Vancouver, Flying Officer C. V. Gilmore has been Sea Island Air Base and Capilano Canyon. appointed commanding officer, with Flying A very interesting trip was a visit to a Officer J. Struch as Equipment Officer and Royal Canadian Navy cruiser in Van- T. E. McDonald pending appointment as couver. The boys were extended invita- adjutant. Civilian instructors are: Howard tions before the general public were Black-Navigation; Keith McMillan-Aero allowed. Engines; G. Bragg-Meteorology; Art Local competitions last year included: Simms-First Aid; Constable Donnan, 1. The Grimmelt Trophy - a trophy R.C.M.P.-Range Training. awarded to a team of cadets of one of the Mr. Frank Doran, Chairman of the Spon- three services which receives the highest soring Committee, 'has announced that no marks for target shooting. A team of Air new recruits will be accepted after October Cadets, consisting of WOl Plante, LAC 15th. Bulow, LAC Huszti, LAC Wahlenberg and All cadets have the opportunity to com- ACl Tickles, proved their markmanship pete for the various awards ,and courses by defeating Sea Cadet and Army Cadet offered annually by the Air Force and the t eams. local committee. A summary of last year's 2. W02 Bloomfield won the local Pro- activities will acquaint the reader with ficiency Shield, which is awarded annually some of these: to the best all-round Air Cadet. Flying Training-Sgt. Terry McFadden 3. AC2 Austin walked off with a new and Sgt. David Balfour were recommended trophy presented by t'he boys' mothers this for flying training courses. These cadets year, marking him as the most outstanding received their training at the Winnipeg first year cadet. Flying Club and both successfully passed 4. ACl Tickles was the best senior marks- all tests, graduating as private pilots. Re- man in the squadron, while AC2 Chretien cently they were presented with t'heir won the Junior Rifle competition. civiHan wings at Winnipeg. 5. Boxing was also a feature of last Drill Instmctors' Course-Sgt. Don Ricard year's training. This was supervised by the was posted to Abbotsford, B.C., for seven F.F. Boxing Club. Air Cadets who won weeks' training as a drill instructor. He bouts were Ricard, Wahlenberg and Gunn. passed with excellent marks and is now At present we are well into our 1955-56 one of the outstanding cadets on the program, and the enthusiasm shown by the Squadron. boys indicates that the Air Cadets will be Summer Camp--Twenty-five cadets spent in there with more winners next spring. two weeks' summer training at Abbots- ford, B.C., under the leadership of F The personnel manager was interview- Gilmore and regular Air Force personnel. ing a man for a job and was going through Their training consisted of drill, naviga- the usual questions. tion, meteorology, theory of flight, citizen- "Are you a clock watcher?" he asked. ship, RCAF history, and model aircraft "Nah, I've never had an inside job. I'm building. All boys were given at least one a whistle listener."

16

.. Dril! Instruction-F/ S Don Ricard in charge. F'ront Row : A C2 A us tin, outstanding Ist year cadet. W02 Bloomfield, best al!-round cadet on squadron. ACI TickLes won Sr. Rif!e Competition. AC2 Chretien won Jr. Rif!e Competition. B ack Row: F! S RicaTd, LAC Wah!enberg and AC Gunn won in box ing competitions.

F/ 0 Cy Gilmore, umpire. AC2 Wayne Eag!e Sgt. David Balfour and Sgt. Terry Winners of 21st F!d. Squadron " talking down" to McFadden have graduated as private Grimmett TTophy: WO Plante, LAC Cadet from pilots and are recommended for tty- Bulow, LAC Huszti. LAC Wah!en- D auphin. ing training courses. Both received berg, AC Tickles. civilian wings at W innipeg.

Annual Inspection-F!in Fton. Ftin Fton Squadron No. 302 took familiarization flights at Abbotsford, B .C. 17 ! ...... :. . .. . :: + . • . . . . . :

on the logs, the wind blows chill, the privilege bestowed by this favorite We'll keep our Merry Christmas Christmas green is good only to the last SWING into the merry mood of holiday berry! A Mistletoe without berries has entertaining with a buffet party lost its power. The true Mistletoe custom pl>anned for a crowd of good friends during is to pluck a berry every time you take a this season of gay informality. Easy for the kiss. So, girls (and boys) if you want your hostess and convenient for the guests, money's worth of mistletoe, select one buffet supper is the perfect kind of party heavy with those little white osculatory meal to serve a group. Since it's smartly dividends. informal no stern rules of etiquette * hamper 'the hostess in planning a table setting menu with the emphasis on CHRISTMAS LEGENDS ease of preparation and serving. St. Nicholas-The traditions of Christmas are many. Some C'an be traced, but most Set a gay table with matching paper are lost in the dim recesses of history. The tablecloth and napkins in an appropri,ate story of St. Nicholas, patron saint of chil- 'holiday pattern and cut down tedious post- dren is one rooted in fact. A man named party cleaning up by using paper plates. was born in Asia Minor back in Plan a one-course menu so that once Nich~las the 9th or lOth century, the son of a supper is served, most kitchen chores are wealthy bishop and a charitable mot'her. over. When his parents died, Nicholas gave away Keep the men in mind when planning everything his parents left him. After his the meal and stick to simple, flavorful death he was named as the patron saint of foods. children whom 'he particularly loved. Invitations to the gala balls and parties Do homes all over the world have of colonial days were often written on Christmas trees? The answer is no. It is playing cards. Considered the smart thing the Christmas crib which is more widely then, it's a clever way now to invite friends known as a symbol. It is the creche in to a card party. Your handwriting won't France, the Nacimiento in Spain, and the show up face cards, of course, but will Krippe in Germany. In many European against the red diamonds and hearts. To countries t'he crib is carried through the carry the idea still further, use playing streets by groups of singing children and cards for place cards. And let your guests is ·a feature in many homes during find their partners by matching torn halves Christmas holidays just as the tree is in of cards. . . . All ways to use up the old the northern European countries and here. decks you can't use any more. Gifts-It is interesting that Santa Claus is not widely known around the world as Under the Mistletoe a lot of stealing has a gift-bringer. Mostly, it is the Wise Men been going on for centuries, it seems-and who arrive bearing gifts, especially in much of it isn't legal. The real low-down Eastern and Southern Europe. In Hungary on Mistletoe, say the experts, is t'hat the gifts come from the Angels, in Poland

18 from the Stars, in Greece St. Basil is the ice cubes. They'll soak up all those fragrant gift-bestowing patron saint, while in Den- aromas, and before you know it, your holi- mark it is an elf-Jule-nissen. day punch will be ruined with cubes that Candle-Among the ancient legends of "taste." Here's a fine solution to the prob- Christmas is the legend of the Christmas lem. Keep the ice-cube trays extra clean candle. It tells of a shoemaker who lived with baking soda. A rubbing of baking in a cottage on the edge of a village. Al- soda, plus a good rinsing, cuts all food though a poor man, he placed his candle odors and leaves trays fresh and sweet. in the window each night to guide * * travellers. Despite wars and hardships and THE ORIGIN OF SANTA CLAUS illness his light never wavered. This in- Once upon a time, there lived a very spired the villagers and at the Christmas rich man who admired the kind and gentle season every villager placed a candle in character of Christ. This young man tried his window. The custom grew and became to live up to Christ's teachings by making universal. This beautiful story has been his money bring happiness to other people. enshrined in a "legend Card." He went about placing coins and gifts in the homes of poor people. He did this in Mistletoe-The story of Mistletoe, the secret. His name was Nicholas. When he plant that today is associated with the gay died, people called him Saint Nicholas for side of the Christmas season, was origin- word had gotten about that it was he who ally symbolic of serious and sacred mat- had brought happiness to many. He was ters. The white berries are said to be the buried like any ordinary man but his good radiance caught from the guiding star deeds were the inspiration for the whole when the Wise Men made their gifts to th:~ world to be kind and generous on Christ- Christ Child. They symbolize purity and mas Eve. peace. According to Norse legend, the plant Now when you were a child, Christmas is sacred and must not touch the earth, Eve was certainly the most wonderful hence our custom of hanging it high at n~ght in the year. And there was a mystery Christmas. The monks of the monasteries about it, too. How could this fellow Santa termed it "The Wood of the Cross" and Claus get around to every home in the attributed to it supernatural powers. The world all in one night, and, as big and fat Druids of ancient Britain made the gather- (Continued on page 26) ing of mistletoe a sacred ceremony. In Scandinavia the plant was so revered and Mr. and Mrs. Stir ling Hampson. cherished that it was thought that if ene- mies met beneath it in a frost they dis- armed and kept a truce until the next day. Holly-The legends regarding the holly also date back to the Druids, who believed the evergreen leaves of the holly were proof that the sun never deserted it and it was therefore sacred. Legend also says that the Crown of Thorns was composed of holly, and that before the crucifixion the berries were white but turned crimson. like drops of blood.

Ever heard of a refrigerator "Horn of Plenty"? That's any refrigerator around holiday time-filled to the brim with spicy, good-smelling foods. But better watch your 19 THE GOOD OLD DAYS Costumes and amusements in Manitoba a hundred years ago. Adapted from a paper read before the Manitoba Historical Society by John MacBeth in January, 1893.

The celebrations upon the return of the gaged during the winter preceding the voyageurs, or boatmen, from York Factory voyage. If a man ran short of anything were of such a boisterous character as ta and did not have the money to purchase, make a lasting impression on the dullest or anything to exchange for what he individual. The population of the settle- wanted, he went to the Hudson's Bay Com- ment was small and there was no great pany store or to some general merchant diversity of amusement or social functions. and got an advance which he agreed to r e- Such as there were, however, were plain pay by going to York Factory on the next and simple, though, in the light of today, trip. In this way he was sure to be ready singularly interesting and enjoyable. to start in the following June and the The voyageurs belonged to that class of trader would be assured of a crew. York settlers who did not farm, and who were boats carried a crew of eight men, and dependent upon the Hudson's Bay Com- amongst them there was always one who pany. These boatmen were generally en- furnished fun for the others or who, from 20 some peculiarity, was made the butt of the settlement, the friends and relatives of rest of them. There was always a fiddle both the high contracting parties were or two and most of the men could play. invited, although the method of invitation In one instance it is said there was a boat's differed much from the present style. In- crew where the fiddle was passed from the stead of sending out wedding invitations steersman to the bowsman and every man as we now have to do, the father of the in the boat could play it. When the dif- bride went from house to house and ex- ferent brigades met at York Factory and tended the invitation to those whom he were waiting for their cargoes scenes of wished to have present. Sometimes the boisterous hilarity beggared description. bride and one of her bridesmaids did the On their return to the Red River Settle- inviting. Festivities generally commenced ment a good supply of spirits was on hand the day before the solemnization of the and they proceeded to celebrate a safe marriage, which usually took place on a return from a dangerous voyage. They Thursday. Eating, drinking, but princi- joined with the older settlers in their pally dancing was the order. On the event- pleasures and amusements and were al- ful day proper the happy couple drove to ways welcome guests at parties given by church accompanied by a long procession t!h e settlers. Weddings were a special occa- of invited guests in carioles and cutters, sion for celebration. beautiful horses all ·bedecked with wedding In those days people were married and flowers and every gallant accompanied by given in marriage in a manner quite dif- a partner. Women being scarce, the young ferent from today. A license cost the sum belles were often embarrassed by the im- of 30 shillings for this was the time before portunities of several admirers who took the transfer of the monetary system to her to the church. She had, however, to dollars and cents. There were no ushers make a choice often weeks before the event or orange blossoms, wedding breakfasts, and although she must necessarily over- congratulatory speeches or honeymoon whelm several with disappointment and trip. The wedding breakfast they certainly grief she might safely be trusted to choose had and several of them for that matter, the right one. The return of the marriage and dinners and suppers galore. Where party or procession was generally made the such an important event took place in the opportunity for the young men to give an

21 exhibition of the speed of their horses. first Sunday after the marriage the bride There was one rule, however, which was and groom, accompanied by the grooms- that no one must pass the bridal party in men and bridesmiads, drive to church, the race, as to do so would be to commit their horses still flying the many-colored a breach of etiquette which would neither ribbons used on the wedding day, and the be overlooked nor forgiven. bridal party themselves all arrayed in their The house of the bride's parents was wedding clothes. The bridal party dine always used for the feast. The house of a afterwards that day at the house of the neighbour was always cheerfully given up bride. One would think that this would for the dance. These festivities have been end the festivities, but not so. The bride- known to go on with unabated vigor and groom is still at his father-in-law's, and he joyous hilarity for three days and three must be brought back to the paternal roof nights. It is true they were rather hard and the new daughter must be welcomed on moccasins but people very often pro- royally. The day fixed for the groom to vided themselves with more than one pair, take home his bride always to his father's so that when one was worn out a new pair house was Tuesday. It is now the turn of was ready. It may be thought that the the parents of the groom to put on a cele- moccasin part is overdrawn, but it should bration. They have invited all their rela- be understood that dancing in those days tives and friends to celebrate the arrival was different. Instead of pianos and or- home of their daughter-in-law. It is now chestras, there was merely the good old the same old story all over again-fiddle, fiddle with plenty of able and willing hands jig, feasting and making merry, generally to play it. Instead of the easy going and till sunrise the following morning, when dreamy waltz, it was the lively Red River all go home, put away their wedding gar- jig, which required not only skill but en- ments and go about their daily work as if durance as well. Then there were the nothing had happened. Scotch reel and the Reel of 4 instead of the Afternoon tea parties or card parties slower dances of the quadrille. were unknown. Instead of having some The next important step after the mar- stated day in the week for receiving callers riage festivities was the "Kirking." On the or visits, every day was a reception day. When one lady wished to visit another, she simply went when it was convenient for her to do so and always found the latch string on the outside of the door. She in- variably found the lady on whom she was calling at home, if she was not out, hut never found her out when she was at home. Christmas day in the Red River Settle- ment was not very well observed, but New Year's day was the day that was kept. It was a great day, a red letter day in fact, especially for the Indians. Every Indian who had a flint lock gun would have it loaded up and it was a very common thing for the settlers to be disturbed at dawn on New Year's morning by a volley of musketry outside the door. After this preliminary the Indians would divide themselves into squads and start their visits, calling at every home on their 22 way and eating at each place. If they could as far up the Red River as Pembina, across not eat all that there was given them a the line. Horse racing was the whole sport. receptacle was always convenient in which The track being from the Fort to what is the remnants were stowed away. The now the corner of Portage and Main but settlers prepared beforehand for their then only bare trail. many callers. When a party of them There was very keen competition in the entered a house the men shook hands all different events, and every race was run round. The squaws moreover were always on its merits-the best horse usually win- determined not to be behind their paleface ning. There was very little gambling on sisters in keeping up the customs that pre- the events and cheating of the jockeys vailed of kissing on New Year's day and practically unknown. insisted on kissing anybody and everybody. Dominion Day, July 1st, did not come The twenty-fourth of May was always a into effect until 1867, but the Americans great day in those old Red River times. celebrated July 4th and the Canadians People would gather at Fort Garry from were only too pleased to join them. Lake Winnipeg to Portage la Prairie and Up at York Factory New Year's day was 23 the day of the year, the same as at every On New Year's evening the officers in other trading post. At five in the morning charge gave a grand dinner and ball. To the clerks and staff would be called in by the latter all the employees of the Com- the steward to meet t:he officer in charge pany were invited, the best of good fellow- in the mess-room where, after handshak- ship prevailed, and dancing was kept up ings, compliments, and greetings, refresh- till morning. The custom of giving this ments were served. After them came the annual ball was not only kept up at York tradesmen to exchange greetings with the but at every Hudson's Bay Company post officers. They gave place to the laborers, in the country, from the remotest station in number about 40, who called and also on the Labrador coast to the great Yukon received the hospitality of the Chief Officer. in the Arctic Circle. Then came the women and children of the Another great event of the year was the Fort and they in turn were treated to a arrival of the Hudson's Bay supply ship at supply of cake, dried fruit, etc., and went York Factory, which occurred about the on their way rejoicing. twentieth of August and brought all the It was now the Indians turn. They supplies for the year. This was an event generally congregated about the Fort on of great rejoicing and was announced by New Year's to participate in the good t!he firing of six guns. This ship brought things that were going about that time. one of the two packets received during th~ They were invariably well treated and, .if year from the outside world. The excite- not identical with their white brethren, ment of opening and reading letters from they were fully pleased and satisfied with over the sea was intense; some letters their kind reception. bringing tidings of joy and some of sorrow;

24 some telling of continued health and happi- ous summer voyages and the indescrib- ness of friends, and others that some dear able hardships of their long winter trips relative or friend had passed away. Per- on snowshoes with their dog teams, sleep- haps no one was more anxious for the tid- ing out in the snow with nothing but the ings brought over by the great ship than canopy of heaven for a roof with very the pioneer missionary and his wife, for scanty bedding and often not enough food not only were they anxious for the arrival to satisfy the cravings of their appetites- of their few supplies but news it would we have often heard about these things bring them from their children whom they but it is very difficult to describe them. had sent home to be educated. In the midst of great trials, even death, All this time the brigades were camping they would invariably rise to the occasion along the river banks and kept up a con- and successfully overcome the many dif- tinuous round of festivities until their ficulties in their path. cargoes were delivered to them and their It is remarkable how cheerful, contented homeward voyages to the Saskatchewan and happy these people were in their or Red River began. isolated situations, their long distances The winter months in the north and the from relatives and friends, from whom shortness of daylight meant that most amusements must take place indoors. At Fort Simpson and Fort Chippewayan bil- liard tables were made; the legs and top were of spruce, the latter thoroughly levelled with a spirit level. The cushions and balls were, of course, imported. The cues were of birch and the tips of old tan leather carrying straps and stuck on with glue. It is surprising that in a country so isolated there could be found good libraries, yet at Fort Simpson on the Mackenzie River a library was formed by subscription from the officers and men and by donations from the Hudson's Bay officials in their parts of the country. In the fall of each year post managers would receive a good supply of books; each were returned the following year and a fresh supply obtained. There were many hardships, difficulties and privations en- dured by the people of the north country a hundred years ago. Their danger- they only heard once a year. Many of these "Father," he said, "forgive me for losing people had been accustomed to the best my halo. I gave it to the little babe in the society in the civilized centres of the Old manger in Bethlehem." A murmur of dis- World, yet some are contented in their approval swept through the host of angels solitary posts often with only dogs and -that one of their number Should think savages for their companions and some- so little of his halo as to give it away. times alone in the snow-clad regions of the But the Father looked at Twinkle and far norbh. smiled. "You have done well," he said. Often when the time came for them to And then the angels who were watching retire and to return to their country of Twinkle were amazed to see shining about origin to live in peace and quiet, they his face a new halo, brighter than the would think back on the good old days and other, for this one was of purest gold. write and speak about them as if such a life Twinkle felt it on his head; he reached up were ideal. to touch it with his hand, to make sure it The following poem was written by an was real; it was. He gave it a slight tilt old gentleman in his 81st year and sung to one side-for that was the jaunty sort at a convention of an early settlers' associa- of angel Twinkle was. tion down East: -HAROLD LEONARD BOWMAN. Give me the good old days again, When hearts were true and manners plain, When boys were boys till fully grown, TO THE LADIES And baby belles were never known; (Continued from page 19) When doctors' bills were light and few, as he was, get down into houses with such And lawyers had not much to do; small chimneys? When honest toil was well repaid, Of course, the answer to this puzzle is And theft had not become a trade. that as you grew up you learned t'hat Santa Give me the good old days again, Claus takes a human form. You see, the When only healthy meat was slain; ghost of St. Nicholas splits itself up into And flour was pure and milk was sweet little atoms of kindness and these take root And sausages were fit to eat; in the hearts of fathers and mothers, When children early went to bed uncles, aunts, guardians and friends and And ate no sugar on bheir bread; turns them all, but for Christmas Eve only, When lard was not turned into butter, into Santa Clauses. And tradesmen only truth could utter. * * * Give me the good old days again, Don't pull the wool over your eyes, un- When women were not proud and vain; less it's sweet and clean. Now's the time When fashion did not sense out-run to take inventory of your favorite sweaters. And tailors had no need to dun; They're probably in need of a sudsing be- When wealthy parents were not fools, cause you've been wearing your winter And common sense was taught in schools; woolens and curling up before cozy fires When hearts were warm and friends were to forget winter's c'hilly blasts. Baking true, soda, added to the water in which you And Satan had not much to do. wash your sweaters-about three table- spoons soda to one quart warm water- A CHRISTMAS STORY will loosen dirt and lessen the rubbing (Continued! from page 1) process. Baking soda, which is pure, mild gathered about the great white throne, bicarbonate of soda, neutralizes acids, thus little Twinkle came and stood alone amid reducing perspiration odors, and leaves the reproachful looks of the other angels. sweaters sweet and fresh. 26 CANADIAN LEGION a means of improving relations with em- (Continued from page 5) ployees as the Plan gives them a chance never forgot it: "United we stand; divided to feel that they are part of the organiza- we fall." tion. Employees receive personal recogni- In the early twenties there was the tion for constructive thinking and a real Great War Veterans' Association, there was satisfaction in seeing their own ideas being the European War Vets' Association, and used. It gives employees a tangible share there were a dozen others, all pleading and of the benefits which result from the adop- raising their voices at once for the Cana- tion of their ideas." dians who fought in the First World War. And their voices were unheard and their MECHANICAL AND CONSTRUCTION pleas went unanswered. (Continued from page 11) But when the Canadian Legion took forces in Korea. Roy (Baldy) Jackson, of form and then began to grow and grow, Canoe Derby fame, left for the west coast. the people of Canada realized that at last Baldy was known to have an intimate ac- the enlisted men had a strong friend. quaintance with every }ake within miles It advocated and obtained such legisla- and a reputation of being a tough man on tion as war veterans' allowances, treatment the trail. regulations and pension improvements. Do you know we have a few pigeon And it won many of its battles, and the fanciers in town? Vern Storey has been veterans' lot is vastly improved. breeding and racing homing pigeons for years, and recently one of his birds place:i well in a 200-mile race on the prairies. He SUGGESTION SYSTEM is now planning a 500-mile race, which (Continued from page 14) will start in North Dakota. Hope t'he poor engenders understanding and an apprecia- bird doesn't have any trouble with the tion of each other's problems. Employees customs. Louis Hurta has a few birds in who can participate in the improvement of his loft also. By the way, what is the right the business in which they are engaged be- name for a pigeon fancier? come more interested and valuable em- Merry Christmas everybody! ployees. "While it is true that there are many reasons for establishing suggestion sys- Mama Fish to Baby Fish: "Now eat all tems, probably the principal one is for your worms. You must grow up to be big tapping the vast reservoir of good con- and strong so some fisherman won't have structive ideas that are floating around in to lie about you." employees' minds. The industrial innova- tions which have resulted from suggestions attest to the worth of employees' ingenuity. Without the means of communicating the ideas to management through the sugges- tion plan, they may never have been INSIDE COVER PICTURES realized. Inside front cover is by Bill Mc- Fadden showing his three children on "The Suggestion Award Plan was dt!- Christmas morning. The picture of Lady signed to provide all Civil Servants with Baden-Powell, World Chief Guide, an opportunity of trying to improve the shaking hands with one of the 1,500 efficiency of Government Service. It serves Flin Flon children on Gold Cord day as a good two-way communications be- is by Publications Department. tween employees and senior officials. It is 27 GIRL GUIDES Lady Baden-Powell, Chief World Guide, presented Gold Cords to six Guides in September. Recipients were Dawna Anderson, Churchill Norma Paylor, Maxine McCutcheon, Pat Negrych, J oan Buchanan and Sheila Wood, all of Flin Flon. It was a gala day, Her LadyShip shaking hands with over 1,500 Guides, Scouts Brownies and Cubs. FLIN FLON JUNIOR BOMBERS Coach-Bob Kirk 1955-1956

Manager-B ud Simpson Trainer-Hec McCaig Lyle Willey Gordon Redahl Mel Pearson

Harvey Fleming Carl Forester Ernie Poirier G eorge Konik Ron Hutchison

Ken WilLey John Dubinak Ted Hampson Len B olton Jack Black

Walt Peacosh Cliff Lennartz Wayne Hollier AI Jones Frank Kubica

Bob Kortje George Komanac Roy Cowan Stan Moskal Mike Kardash hails from South Africa, is attached to the Smelter group. Hugo, a chemical engineer Research from University of Capetown, worked in Walter Zbitnew Northern Rhodesia and Uganda before coming to Canada. He spent some time at Falconbridge Nickel Mines before joining THIS is the season when curling and this department. One of his hobbies is square dancing are the rage-the sea- stamp-collecting. son when "Mac" McCrimmon puts his golf clubs in cold storage and hauls the brooms Don Semple was transferred from the out of the mothballs. Frank Pearson ex- Mill group to take charge of the Polaro- ercises his tonsils with "Allemande left graph and Electrolytic sections in the Main your corners all." Frank is one of the lab after Bruce Stewart left us late in twenty or so "Researchers" who are June. Bruce was with us since 1950 and squares. He received a pin in recognition both he and Marion will be missed at our for his services as instructor-caller and social gatherings. An exposure meter was Keith Callander his "master's" diploma, presented to Bruce (he is another "foto- having completed a post-graduate course fiend") and best wishes tendered by his in square dancing, at the Jamboree held many friends in the department. We are at Birchview School. glad to hear that the Stewarts like their new location. "Mac" McCrimmon vows he will break the 5-year jinx of being out of the Bonspiel The Research Social Club held their just before the "prize money" games. annual general meeting on October 14th. (Other skips please note.) When reminded Len Gugleilmin was elected to the "chair," that Bobby Bruce took seven tries , "Mac" Keith Callander is the new "vice" and Al grinned and said, "Ah yes, but this is the Olson was returned to the position of 'jet' age." "scribe and custodian of the kitty." The While "snooping" around for news we new executive of the club arranged for a "caught" Dave "Drawshot' Robertson pol- Hallowe'en dance at St. Ann's Parish Hall, ishing up the Research Challenge Curling replete with ghosts, goblins and spirits. Trophy-no doubt for that all important One of the boys swears that it was a "pink" game against Roy "Boom-Boom' Coulter ghost he saw that night-elephants come and his Mill group "Crushers." in 3D only. There were quite a number of changes Can the reason for the revival of the in our ranks. George Weaver was with us lost art of reading be the new librarian? in the Zinc Plant By-products section until (See picture elsewhere on this page.) time for him to go back to the "House," Sam Donoghue returned from his annual with Cece Nicholson taking over for the "pilgrimage" down South with a movie balance of the project. John Durnin Purvis, camera. A "sneak preview" of his first a '54 Science graduate from the U. of Man., "feature" shows that MGM has some keen increased the number of bachelors in our competition. Len Creighton attended a con- department to two. Jack joined the Zinc ference with the imposing name of "Sym- Plant hockey 'team and is reported to wield posium on Applied Spectroscopy" which a wicked stick. Hugo Albertus Smit, who was held at Ottawa.

"Peter" Henry-our Hugo Smit is from charming librarian. Sam Donaghue, Pipetting AdeLe and Andy K ristof, newlyweds. South Africa. J ohn Purvis. Island Falls Bill Southworth

WE HAVE quite a few personnel changes to report since our last issue. Iris Kohnen arrived from Hitch-hikers Sharon B rown and Judy Langenburg, Saskatchewan, to take over the duties Russel!. of camp nurse, replacing Barbara McClughan whose marriage to Bill Kulcher of Flin Flon was an event of September 2nd. School opened August 28th with Kay Oliver of Oberon, Manitoba, in charge of the senior room and Shirley Curry of Indian Head, Sas- kachewan, looking after the primary grades. Irene Lengyel was transferred to the Flin Flon office, our own Daireen Grayson, taking care of our steno- graphic work. Daireen, we are proud to report, was chosen Queen Mermaid at the Flin Flon Trout Festi- val and tells us she had a marvellous time at the Minneapolis Aquatennial. Quite a number of stu- dents were working here for the summer but have returned to their studies in September. Diana Thompson, summer sports director, returned to the University of Saskatchewan. Fred Mcintosh entered second year arts at the University of Manitoba. Keith Olson joined our operating staff. Keith completed his grade 12 last year and thinks he would like to have a year out of school, to get his wind as it were, before diving into the field of higher aeronautical engineer- ing. Mary Ann Nicholson, Champ Russenholt, Keith Smith, Joe Chudy, Lowell Christensen, Bruce Chris- tensen, Eddie Hagberg, David Rutherford, Arlene Birston and Lois Christensen were among those who worked here during the vacation time but have now returned to the "old grind." In the late summer the Hammonds moved into their new house and Bill had a busy Fall making been able to make good use himself a lovely lawn. of his lately because we are On August 23rd Sissel Iris Hvidsten was born at now able to drive on our new the Sandy Bay Hospital. Her proud parents are Kjell scenic highway as far south and Sissel Hvidsten. as Mile 49. This road winds through beautiful woodland John Harold Jacobson was born in Flin Flon on scenery and has been graded April 29th and has settled down in his northern home at Whitesand with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Merry Christmas and a Hap- Harold Jacobson. py New Year to all. The boys who own jalopies spent many busy eve- nings in the Fall working on the new jalopy garage and are now glad to report that the work is prac- tically completed. Speaking of cars, everyone has

31 ter in Wisconsin for a while. Maizie Gray flew down to New York wit'h her sister, Winnipeg Office got a fleeting glimpse of Radio City Music Hall, then took off for Ottawa. Myra Whatford Fairlye Allen as usual kept us posted on most of the games at the Stadium this WE GALS probably never will under- year. She even crashed the gate at a formal stand men! Why is it, for example, opening of the new Arena. Says it was all each Autumn when even the ducks get to a mistake when she mingled with the mink thinking it's unhealthy, all erstwhile com- capes nibbling on free petit fours, but that fort-loving sportsmen take off for the didn't appease her brother who accom- marshes? Like fugitives from the freight panied her and was left shivering outside yards, they tote shotguns and decoys, fry- in the cold because of no invitation! ing pans and waders, thermos bottles and We told you 'way back in the summer snake remedies, all for the chance to stand that Roy Enman was building a cottage. up to their knees in an ice-covered pothole. Believe it or not he finished all but the Pity the man's wife who's confronted with interior, and is now planning to start work rewards of such sport-a mess of ducks, a on a boat. Merry Christmas to all. mess of dirty socks and a mess of a hus- band, all three smelling not unlike the city dump after a good rain! No doubt she spends a few quiet moments to herself

wondering just what is meant by the dubi- No gun! ous term of 'good clean sport' ... But our Winnipeg Office boys are differ- ent, and smarter than average when it comes to a good shoot (at least so they tell us), and I caught Horace Burgoyne in t'he vault one day consulting an aerial map, which shows a fellow just about everything he wants to know about a given area, trees, water, land and houses, every- thing except the farmer's daughter. Horace " The Better ' Ole." Dug by D r . S. C. Windle. of course never has to be coaxed to go shooting. If nobody shows up in a Cadillac he jumps aboard the first bus and hi-tails it for t'he wide open spaces. He tramps across country, picks off the odd bird or two, then hails the bus driver as he comes back on the home run. Sounds like good trafficking? Horace is in the business. Another enthusiast for this sort of thing is Al Gillies. In fact that's the way Al spent the first part of 'his holiday this year, shoot- ing up the southern part of Saskatchewan with a couple of friends he had arranged A! Gillies' golden retriever, ready tor action. to meet near Fort Qu'Appelle. Got a good bag too, so we hear. Speaking of vacations, several other members of the staff took them late this year. Mr. Blake visited his married daugh- summer of 1955 as one to be remembered. For the owners of summer cabins who Main Office made proper and full use of them, the Clarence Merrell season was perfect. These people are back to work refreshed and in lots of cases WE ARE pleased to welcome the follow- rested after a summer at the many beauti- ing newcomers to our staff: Marilyn ful resorts around us. Others of us are Keddie, our new messenger girl, and Ade- being reminded daily of the places we line Smale, Power Office clerk. visited during the summer with the ar- After a summer sojourn amongst us, rival of statements covering our credit Sheila Sturley of the Accounting Office card gasoline purchases: Our Editor and has left for Winnipeg where she will be Mrs. Mainwaring to Wisconsin; John adding to her storeroom of knowledge. Spencer and family to Toronto; the Andy Leaving recently for Fort Saskatchewan, Maxwells and the Vic Howells to southern Alberta, were Germain Randell of Ac- Manitoba; Joe Van Nes and wife to south- counting who, with husband Don, will be ern California; Harold Vance and family working for Sherritt-Gordon Mines and to Kenora, Ontario; your reporter and Leila Mooney of Power Office who was family to Edmonton, Banff and southern married September 23rd to former Flin Saskatchewan. Late vacationers include Floner Stirk Hampson. Following 18 years Irene Mearns to Arizona, Florence Evans of service with our Company, congenial and husband to Utah and much travelled R. T. (Bert) Kirkwood of Personnel has Marilyn Burrows to Florida.

Best o' !uck to B ert Kirkwood who Andy MaxweU, wife and young G!en. Mrs. OLive Hinde and son Georgi !eft us in September. on Graduation Day.

left Flin Flon to reside in his former home, Harold Vance has joined the ranks of Winnipeg. Bert was very active in many the property owners with the purchase of community affairs including a two-year a house in Birchview. Harold will now term on the School Board. His eagerness have to find time, amongst his many other and ability will be greatly missed by the community activities, for gardening and many groups with which he had become the countless home-owner duties. It is sug- associated. We wish all these good people gested that you cancel your wife's sub- well in their new surroundings. Gail scriptions to any magazines that illustrate Barker has been transferred from Person- ways and means of beautifying or improv- nel to Accounting. ing the home. It seems they are able to Ideal weather conditions will mark the drum up enough ideas on their own. 33 Milling Procedure Dick Downs

THE Mill department treats the ore into a copper concentrate, the zinc mineral from the various company mines and into a zinc concentrate, and the waste rock separates the copper and zinc bearing min- into what is known as a tailings. erals from each other and from the waste We will begin our tour of the Mill De- rock. It produces a copper concentrate partment then at the crusher. This receives which goes to the Smelter where the cop- the ore in lumps anything up to three feet per is extracted as the metal and a zinc in size. When the Crusher has finished concentrate which goes to the Zinc Plant with the ore there is nothing any bigger where metallic zinc is made. than a pea. The machines which do this The heart of the Mill lies in the flotation act on the same principle as a nut cracker. process which performs the actual sepa- The only difference is size. The first and ration of the copper mineral from the zinc biggest machine, a 42" Traylor Bulldog mineral from the waste rock. It was not Gyratory Crusher, stands over 20 feet high, until the flotation process was developed is 15 feet across and weighs some 200 tons. that the whole Flin Flon undertaking be- The ore then passes through two Standard came possible. Symons Crushers, a Short-head Symons What is now Flin Flon mine was known Crusher and a Traylor Rolls Crusher. This as a prospect for a good many years but last named is much like a washing ma- the ore was so complex that there was no chine wringer except that each roll stands way known of treating it. It was in 1926 6 feet high and weighs 20 tons. that flotation was successfully tried in a In order that no oversize lumps pass out laboratory at Denver, Colorado. Results of the Crusher all the ore is screened on were so promising that in 1927 a pilot mill Tyrock screens and the oversize returned was built and put into operation at Flin for further crushing. Flon. The present mill has been operating A notable feature of the Crusher is the since late 1930. It was originally designed conveyor belts which carry the ore around. to handle 3,000 tons of ore per day but at All together there is over a half a mile of present it is handling much more. belting. In order to understand what the Mill All this rock breaking creates a lot of does we have to take a look at the ore. In dust but you would never know it walking one hundred pounds of typical ore there through the Crusher building because of are eight pounds of the copper mineral, the very efficient dust collecting system chalchopyrite and eight pounds of the zinc which is installed. mineral, sphalerite. The other eighty-four 'I'he pea size crushed ore passes to the pounds is waste rock which is worth noth- head end of the Mill where it is stored in ing. The copper and zinc minerals are bins with a capacity of 8,000 tons before scattered throughout the waste rock in passing on to be wet ground. tiny particles and veinlets. The first thing The wet grinding is done in eleven that has to ·be done is to break the ore Hardinge ball mills. These are large bar- extremely fine so that the particles of cop- rels ten feet in diameter and half filled per and zinc minerals are broken away with steel balls. When the Mills are rotated from the waste rock. This is accomplished the tumbling action of these balls breaks in two stages; firstly by dry crushing and up the ore which is ground to just about secondly by wet grinding. The ore is then the same fineness as flour. Water is also ready for the flotation process which does added to the ball mills so that the ore the actual separation of the copper mineral comes out looking like a thin soupy mud

34 known as a pulp. It is now ready for the watered by filtering in American Filters. flotation process. In these the water is sucked through a A flotation machine is a trough two and canvas bag supported on a wooden frame one half feet deep. Partitions extending (Continued on page 39) part way down divide it into compart- ments, three and one half feet square, which are called cells. In each cell is a rotating impeller, which keeps the pulp stirred up. The pulp, to which several spe- cial chemical reagents have been added, enters the head end of the machine, passes through each cell and out the tail end of the machine over a weir. As the pulp passes through each cell, air is blown through it. One of the special chemicals causes t'his air to form a froth on top of the pulp much like soap suds form on top Ground in of a washing machine. The other special water chemicals act on the copper mineral caus- ing it to stick up in the froth which is con- tinuously skimmed off the top of the ma- chine. The zinc mineral and waste rock do not stick up in the froth and pass out the tail end of the machine. We have thus been able to separate the copper mineral Floated as a copper concentrate from the remain- der of the ore. The zinc mineral is separated as a zinc concentrate from the waste rock in a very similar way in a subsequent machine. The J waste rock t'hat is left is called tailings. A l·arge part of the mill building is taken up with the flotation machines. There are Thickened about 500 flotation cells altogether and in order that the pulp will flow from one I bank of machines to the rest without pumping the whole mill has been built on a hill side and t'he machines set at differ- Filtered ent levels. We now have produced separate copper and zinc concentrates. The only trouble is that they are still mixed with water and A the Smelter and Zinc Plant want them as dry as possible. So they are passed into huge settling tanks known as Dorr Thick- eners where the concentrate settles to the Sent to =1 Zinc Plant bottom and is pumped out as a thick mud. ==a=nd=Sm=e=lter=! The largest of the thickeners in the mill is 120 feet across. --, --, The concentrates are then farther de- 35 vew York Rangers with Bomber Coach Bob Kirk (right). Fred Burr, Jimmy BeLL, T ed Spar!ing-'55 goLf champs.

town but with all the expansion both in activities and population some means have Community Club to be found for larger and newer quarters. Basketball is very much a must for kids John Pelletier in this championship-conscious town. More teams are taking part in all the leagues EVERY once in a while you hear visitors this year. say about Flin Flon, that no matter Our ballet class is increasing and be- what time of day or night you walk or comes a problem for room more and more ride around town you see someone with so every year. Mrs. O'Neil, our head in- a lunch kit under his arm. Well, we have structress, is certainly doing a first class a building in t'his town that no matter job. The lessons the "kids" learn in poise what time one looks in there is someone and deportment from ballet are really tops. making use of it. Yes, I mean the Com- Badminton is in full swing again and munity Hall. The old "eyesore" up the hill several new members are seen around the is without doubt the most used building courts. in Flin Flon. Basketball, badminton, ballet One branch of club activity which seems classes, folk dancing, boxing, gym classes, to be going along year after year without dances, smokers, different branch club any publicity or fanfare is the Hobby Club. meetings, choir practices, army canteen It would surprise many of our members and drills, and maybe a few other activi- to see some of t'he work turned out at this ties we have missed. Space is at a premium, busy place. Boats, furniture and what- the hall being booked ahead weeks in have-you. advance. In hockey the Pee-Wees are hard at it This old hall was built in the early again. Midget Hockey time is filled to ca- thirties and has stood up nobly to the pacity with more kids coming up all the ravages of time. As with we humans, old time. Juvenile set-up is going great guns age is beginning to leave its mark. Some and all in all it's worth anyone's time to nights with all the busy bees at play or pay a visit to the Arena on any night that work, it's a wonder the sides do not bulge these leagues are in action. With the crop out. Sure is time for a rebuild job. Mind of "ex-Bombers" one finds quite a few you, the old lady has served this town name players in this league-George Al- nobly. It was adequate for a small mining (Continued on page 39)

K iddies' Circus. Ona!ee J obin was chosen Queen. Safety Department

Nick Iannone B ig toes fractured, but Safetv- toe boots prevented Loss of b ot h feet. "H OW Lucky can be he?" Take a look at the two pictures on what would happen if the Company was this page and you will probably say the not willing to supply the thousands of same thing when told of the circumstances dollars of safety equipment bought an- relative to two accidents in our plant in nually. Supposing a memo was put out as which these boots were involved. Yet it follows: was not all luck as both workmen were MEMO TO ALL PERSONNEL wearing Safety Shoes. "It has been decided t hat p1·otective Picture No. 1 was taken in July 1949 equipment is for the bi1·ds; therefore, t his when a brakeman on the Smelter calcine is to info1·m you that effectiv e immedi- train slipped as he was stepping on the ately, the use of all types of protective footboard of the car and the moving wheel equipment is prohibited and will no longeT ran over the toe-cap of his shoe. His toes be furnished by this company. were bruised but he lost no time from All such equipment, including Tubber work, note that the Safety Toe of the shoe protective gloves, belts, hats, goggles, res- was pinched down so bad that the sock pi1·ators, etc., now in yow· possession and was caught and could not be removed. in the staTerooms shall be p1·omptly tw·ned Again in September of this year we had into the main office foT disposal. a similar accident. A workman leaned over The intelligence and peTseverance of the to move the controller of a 10-ton calcin~ employees of this oTganization aTe con- locomotive while standing at one side of sideTed to be of such a high calibeT that the locomotive. When the train moved we can more effectively and efficiently peT- ahead the wheel of the locomotive ran form our duties "in the raw." We don't over both his feet. He did not escape un- need "fTills." harmed but fractured both big toes and Let us show the employees of other com- bruised the others. The shoes-see picture panies the stuff of which we people m·e No. 2. Our comments are that the safety made. shoes that both these men wore probably Nothing is better than a head cracked saved them from being permanent dis- abilities, i.e. the loss of a foot. (Continued on page 39 )

The above reported incidents show with- CaLcine car ran over Safety-toe boot T oes mereLy b1·u ised, no Lost time. out a doubt the importance of using pro- tective equipment, yet in the plant and mine we still meet up with some sloppi- ness or carelessness in the use of the pro- tective equipment provided. For instance, the face shields that were in place for a couple of weeks, then broken and discard- ed; the goggles that disappeared from the grinding wheel; the guard over the power saw blade that the carpenters said was not practical so it was removed, result-.:~ carpenter lost two fingers and possibly a third. Sometimes it makes a man wonder

37