EnRicher April 2020

CELEBRATING OVER 20 YEARS OF RICHER NEWS!

Volume 22 Issue 11

April 2020

Piecing Together “The Forgotten Trail”

You may be surprised to learn that construction of the Dawson Trail began with headquarters at La Coulée, at the edge of the forest where Jean-Baptiste Desautels had a farm and sawmill and that Sainte-Anne-des-Chênes was the oldest parish of the Red River Colony; or that travelers of the early Dawson Trail were required to load and unload their freight as many as 70 times throughout their journey from Fort William now known as Thunder Bay to St. Boniface.

The Dawson Road has a legacy and the Dawson Trail Arts and Heritage Tour is busy piecing it together for the development of an eventual heritage interpretive trail and art tour along this historic trail from Richer to Lorette.

Months of research have revealed many treasures, the efforts of which are soon to be revealed on an informative website that they hope to unveil in mid-May and that will serve as the platform for a self-guided tour along this same stretch of road.

This research, led by expert consultants, has included a sweep of traditional archival sources, museums, libraries, journals and documents from provincial and national repositories, including several local sources.

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The story is in itself, mostly complete. However, there are a few points of interest where they would welcome additional photos or related stories, so they are calling on you for help. Take a moment to rummage through your grandparents and/or family archives for any information you may have on the following: 1. The “Redpath” building at La ADVERTISE in the

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Coulée (they have images of it in Sainte-Anne after it was demolished in 1878 and rebuilt as the convent across from the HBC building); 2. Images or illustrations of John Allen Snow, surveyor and superintendant of the Trail’s roadbuilding party at the La Coulée headquarters until 1870; 3. Travel on the Dawson Trail’s corduroy roads by ox cart in this area and any vestiges of the original corduroy road (they have some but would like more); 4. Jean-Baptiste Gauthier and Rosalie (Germain) Gauthier, who served, respectively, as the first postmaster for Lorette/Ste. Anne and the first teacher in the area; 5. The Hudson Bay Company’s “Compagnie de la Graisse” West of Lorette (1832-1833); 6. Local sawmills along the Dawson Road in the late 1800s and woodsmen/wood cutters/crews (“bûcherons”) harvesting the oak forest and wood in the area during the mid to late 1800s; 7. Lac Bossé or other sources of

gravel ridges in the area that are said to have been used for the construction of the new road until 1870; 8. Photos or journals from the first pioneers and immigrants who traveled the Dawson Road from 1870 to 1878; 9. Photos or images of Finnigan Road, and the point where La Coulée and the Seine River meet, pre 1900s.

Keep in mind they already have images and data from traditional sources. They are looking here for your personal insights, stories or photos on these items. Please scan the info you have or take a photo with your phone cameras and send it along with your contact info to dawsontrailtourmb@ gmail.com. They can then contact you at a later date if they need copies of the original sources.

The development of an interpretive trail on the physical landscape remains a long term priority and they hope to celebrate the inaugural art tour along the Daw-

son Trail in September 2020.

The committee is grateful to the community members, stakeholders, volunteers and local historians who have come forward thus far to share their knowledge and support.

Perhaps now more than ever, the Dawson Trail Arts and Heritage Tour provides a forum through which we can learn, share and celebrate our community spirit, pride and resilience. Stay safe and we’ll look forward to seeing you on the Dawson Trail!

Crib News

Richer Crib Club met Tuesday, March 3rd and we had a great turnout! Our winners for the evening were Roger Chenier in first place, Gisela Harms in second place and Rick Betts in third. Cornie Klassen took the booby prize and drew Jim L’esperance’s ticket for the 50/50. On the 17th, a few of us met for our last tournament for a while. We were only 10, so we played six games of low-ball, just for fun. George Dmitruk won having the lowest

score, with Rick Betts coming in second, and Norm Burnell taking third. Yours truly got the booby prize by having the highest score.

Why couldn’t I get cards like that in a regular tournament? I drew Dave Haraldson’s name for the 50//50. The dime pot was awarded to Dan Ross for high average for the season, since we didn’t know when we would be able to meet again. Congratulations, to all our winners! We will do our best to keep everyone informed, and hopefully we will be able to meet again this summer.

Due to protocols with COVID19, the resource coordinator will be working from home. All seniors are welcome to call or email if there is a need for groceries, essential transport, conversation, etc. We are always ready to help during these difficult times.

Mélanie Brémaud Resource Coordinator Seine River Services for Seniors Inc. labseinerss@gmail.com Telephone 204-424-5285 Cell 204-905-3360

MARK YOUR

CALENDAR!

Saturday, April 11 and 25: Recycling Collection. 9:30 am - 12 noon. 1st stop Burnell’s, 2nd stop Richer Inn, 3rd stop Tibeauville, 4th stop Timberline, with the 5th stop at the Richer Husky where the recyclers will remain until noon. Recycling can also be dropped off in the recycling shed located in the Richer Husky parking lot at your convenience.

Monday, April 27: Deadline for submissions for the May issue of the EnRicher.

Cancellations

Due to this covid 19 epidemic the Dawson Trail Museum will cancel the Good Friday Walk with the Cross April 10th , the 2020 Red River Expedition banquet which was to be held on April 25th will be postponed, and also the Spring Artisan Sale on May 2nd cancelled.

May we all do our share in keeping a distance and stay in contact with family and friends via social media. We also thank all the health professionals, store workers, drivers and everyone stepping up to fight this virus by keeping us safe.

Kids of all ages are getting creative in the kitchen and then posting their creations and recipes online.

Hope In Being Hopeful

One of the Rock the Rec community activities was to decorate or paint the front windows so that others would have something to check when driving around or walking throughout the community.

By Pastor Ben Funk Allow me to bring some hope into our troubled world. None of us are immune to the secret enemy that is roaming around and reeking havoc. Henri Nouwen is a person who ministered in a mentally challenged facility in Toronto, Canada. It is he who talked about that, nobody escapes being wounded. We all are wounded people, whether physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. The main question is not ‘How can we hide our wounds?’ so we don’t have to be embarrassed, but ‘How can we put our woundedness in the service of others?’ When our wounds cease to be a source of shame, and become a source of healing, we have become wounded healers.

We can see this sentiment of wounded healer in Psalm 23. The book of Psalms was written as a personal communication with God. We could say that the Psalms were written for us to speak our cries and prayers to God. The other books in our Bible are the stories of a particular people or to a particular people. The Psalms however, invite the reader into laments, songs, and prayer to the point where each Psalm could be our Psalm, or even our prayer.

What is unique about Psalm 23 is that it is a Psalm of healing. This Psalm is unique in that there is a complete lack of anxiety in the midst of adversity. Normally the psalmists express their cries, anguish, freely.

Looking at this Psalm we see there is freedom to express sentiments without anxiety. Why? This author truly embodied what was being prayed. The author of Psalm 23 is someone who has known fear and stared it down, someone who had wounds and was healed.

Each of us has that opportunity for our lives as we guard our mind and spirit during this time. It is difficult to remain calm when at times we are inundated with information overload! Let me suggest that “God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power; and of love and of a sound mind” (2timothy 1:7). Might I suggest do not trade your power for panic and do not exchange your faith for fear. Be wise, be hopeful, we are in this together. Let’s be healers one to another.

“No boundaries, we’ve got people from all over the world that are members and connecting in a BIG way on this page.

It’s very inspiring. I’m blown away at how it’s just exploded,” Normandeau continued. “These are real people in isolation, connecting in a virtual way still participating in recreational fun and excitement.”

Group members have access to a variety of different activities that encourage participation without encouraging physical contact. For example there is an album like Chef Cam, an online talent show, and activities like a “Teddy Bear Quest Bingo” challenge where families can go around a community and search for stuffed animals.

There are activities geared towards kids based on grade level, both in French and English and everyone is getting involved.

“Older kids are reading books, recording themselves and posting them into these albums for the younger kids,” Normandeau continued. “Every day I create a new and fun Rock the Rec Challenge for families and kids to complete.”

Even local businesses are getting in on the fun by providing opportunities to group members. Fraser Reptiles from Lorette are using the page as a way to create virtual fun for the kids involving their live critters. From Ste. Anne, Epic Fitness is doing fitness challenges and workouts for members.

Normandeau added that one of the cool things about the group is that while it is in Ste. Anne, members are logging in from Canada, US, Australia, Scotland and England. “It’s pretty neat to see the connectivity that’s happening,” she concluded.

Online Recreation Opportunities Launched in Ste. Anne

The Recreational Services Manager for the Town of Ste. Anne is blown away with the response to a new online community she called Rock the Rec. Within a matter of days, a locally organized Facebook group called Rock the Rec has grown to almost six hundred members.

With four local administrators, including Susan Normandeau, the group is providing a unique way for the community to remain active.

“It literally started with me trying to prove I could bring recreational opportunities to the community in a virtual sense.

Sorta knowing any recreation professional such as myself may lose their job in all of this uncertainty,” Normandeau explained.

While the group started locally, members are joining from all around the world.

From The Pastor’s Desk...

To join in on the fun, look for Rock the Rec on Groups on Facebook.

Richer Fireside Youth...

Youth will get together at a later date. For more info, please call Michelle at 204 424-5216 or email richerfiresideyouth@gmail.com.