THE Underground PRESS Volume 9, Issue 1 SNOW LAKE, MANITOBA January, 2004 Library Renamed focus on the future th STAFF Close to fifty people came out to a December 27 ceremony STAFF Several months ago, the Town of Snow Lake began planning held to commemorate the renaming of the community of for the possible closure of the New Britannia Mine. Part of Snow Lake’s library. The library, previously known only as the their preparation strategy is to organize for that prospect as well as try “school library” was renamed the Dorothy Salahub Library. Those in and determine the economic opportunities that would be best suited for attendance at this historic occasion included the late Mrs. Salahub’s the community if and when it happens. husband Bill, her four children Bill Jr., Doug, Cathy, and Ronald, as On November 29th of this year, Snow Lake’s Recreation Director, well as her Granddaughter Christine, other family members and Stephanie Foy, and the Town’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), numerous close friends. Chuck Dunning, attended a training seminar put on by the Manitoba The ceremony got underway shortly before 3:00 p.m. with the Community Development Corporation. By their own admission, it was introduction of the family and delivery of a short history on the well worth the trip to Thompson and the chance to participate. community’s library, which was written by Dorothy Salahub herself. The Thompson session centered upon training attendees to facilitate Following this, Lynore Spruyt, Vice Principal of Frontier School focus groups, which in turn would be looking for community Division’s J.H. Kerr School, gave a heart warming and sometimes involvement in local economic development issues. Both Dunning and humorous account of her personal recollections during Mrs. Salahub’s Foy stated that the focus group process is simple; and that participation time in the library, and expressed her own as well as the division’s in the groups that they have facilitated thus far has been excellent. respect and admiration at having the library named in her honour. They also agree that the information garnered from the process will After Mrs. Spruyt’s address, Snow Lake’s Mayor, Garry Zamzow prove invaluable during the period of instability foreseen in the town’s was called upon to say a few words. Like Spruyt, Zamzow also knew future. Mrs. Salahub on a personal level and spoke from the heart in “We are allowing the residents of Snow Lake input into the changes memorializing her and acknowledging her contributions to the that will be occurring over the next couple of years,” said Foy during a community. recent interview. “The last time the town lost it’s main employer, Dorothy Salahub taught at Snow Lake’s school from 1958 –1960, and consultants were brought in to tell us what we needed. This time we also substitute taught in the 1970’s. She was Snow Lake’s community would like the people of our community to tell us what is needed.” librarian from early 1989 until retirement in January of 2000. Foy says that the sessions are informal and begin with the facilitators (SEE LIBRARY’ on page 7) (SEE FOCUS on page 4) An afternoon at the ballet Rcmp update Some time back, the Underground Press reported on STAFF: There are any number of places where an afternoon at the STAFF: several police matters that were waiting to go before the Ballet would be considered the norm. However, for obvious courts, and this past month further information was released reasons, tiny Snow Lake, Manitoba would not be included amoung on both. They involved an early morning accident on the Osborne Lake th them. Nevertheless, on the afternoon of December 4 , the entire school Road and a firearm incident. Corporal Bob MacKnight of the Snow population and over one hundred towns folk were treated to an Lake RCMP Detachment advises that as a result of there being outstanding performance by the world renowned Royal Winnipeg reasonable and probable grounds to make a blood demand from the Ballet (RWB). adult female, who was believed to be the driver of the single vehicle The production was entitled “Concert Hour Ballet” and was brought involved in the rollover accident, charges of driving a vehicle with over to the community under the auspices of the Aurora Borealis Arts 80 mgs/liter blood and impaired driving were laid. Council. The 25 members of the troupe arrived from a performance in “The required samples of blood were obtained and forwarded to the Thompson three hours before their Snow Lake show and immediately RCMP’s Winnipeg Forensic Lab, for analysis,” said MacKnight. “This got to work readying the Gordon Doak Gym for their presentation. determined that at the time that the samples were obtained, the driver’s Everyone from the 20 students in the dance troupe to the bus driver was blood alcohol content was in excess of the legal limit. As a result, her involved in setting up the school for the show. As stated in some of the drivers license was immediately suspended for 90 days, pending a court RWB’s literature, “No one is too precious to do their part.” appearance.” The corporal reports that the driver appeared in In addition to curtains, drapes, lighting and sound equipment, the Provincial Court in Cranberry Portage on October 27 and entered a plea company brought their own floor – a Harlequin studio dance floor. It is of guilty to Driving Over .08. She received a $1000 fine and a one year a vital element of the troupe’s gear and is comprised of linoleum strips prohibition from operating motor vehicles, anywhere in Canada. The rolled for transport. Once in the gym, it is laid flat on the floor, duct charge of Impaired Driving was stayed. taped together and when completely installed, provides an ideal surface Additionally, a young person (under the Youth Criminal Justice Act for dancers to move on. The entire set up was accomplished in under 45 young offenders are now referred to as young persons) involved in an minutes and after a lunch provided by the Arts Council and prepared by incident back in early September, was charged under Section 88 of the Home Economics students, the dancers began warming up before Criminal Code with possessing a firearm and under Sec. 121(1) of the dressing and applying their makeup and hairstyles for the performance. Liquor Control Act, with underage consumption of alcohol. This young (SEE BALLET on page 6) (SEE RCMP on page 6) Page 2 THE Underground PRESS January, 2004 E D IT O R IA L them delivered to their seats. Additionally, a new MTS-TV channel will be set up and will broadcast Manitoba Moose hockey games to ’ve changed my tune a bit on the idea that kids need more to do in home subscribers. Wow, isn’t that something? We can’t get cell phone Snow Lake. I’m beginning to think that we might be going just a service in our community and MTS is outfitting a sporting venue, so little bit overboard in drumming up things for them to take part in. that heaven forbid, people don’t have to get up and walk 50 meters for a The statement, “There’s nothing to do!” has evolved, and now actually beer or a hotdog. Yes, and those same people can enjoy Moose games means, “There’s nothing NEW to do!” sitting at home, viewing via MTS’s cutting edge technology, while A quick scan of the bulletin boards in the school, community hall, we’re still putting up with dial-up Internet service. Winnipeg arena, and stores would lead anyone to believe that children are our experiences and enjoys the wonders of the “phone booth”, while Snow community’s most valued assets. No doubt, they are. These boards are Lake continues to sit in the “outhouse”. covered with recreational ads for everything from basket weaving to ~**~ basketball. We spend a lot of time, a lot of money, and a lot of worry “Weird Web Site of the Month” honours goes to: http:// on activities to take up the leisure time that we assume our children www.clumsycrooks.com/. The site includes a pretty funny selection of have. It frustrates us when we think about all the trouble we go to in “True Stories” involving actual crimes committed by “Clumsy Crooks order to provide oppourtunities for our kids to take part and then they and Foolish Felons!” Lots of stories, amusing pictures, and news facts either tire of the activity inside a couple of weeks, or we have them so like: "Mexican Prisoner Juan Lopez escaped from jail January 1996 involved in things that their schooling suffers. after using acidic salsa sauce from six years of jailhouse dinners to When we think back to our own youth it was so much simpler. The dissolve the bars on his cell window." Or “Bank robber arrives early, facilities were all there and when we weren’t taking part in “basic” waits outside wearing face mask.” Check it out. activities within them, we were out making fun for ourselves. Scrub ~**~ hockey, road hockey, halushka, cards, board games, and marbles were Each day as I walk to work, I can’t help but notice snowmobile tracks all things that we did without the help, supervision, or urging of our all over the pedestrian walkway (pipeline path) to the subdivision. I’m parents. And we actually had a pretty good time. Contrary to popular left to wonder what would be on a sled driver’s mind as they crest that belief, most kids left to their own devices will choose to have fun hill only to meet and run down a pedestrian.