Bishop Duncan Wallace retires
By Barbara-Lynn Dixon REGINA - “A battleship disguised as a tugboat” said a speaker at one of the several gatherings held in May to celebrate with laughter, tears and thanksgiving the episcopal ministry of Bishop Duncan Wallace. He retired June 30 after seven years as the tenth bishop of Qu'Appelle. The defining incident of his episcopal ministry was, undoubtedly, the residential school crises. This national crisis no doubt revealed the bishop's sense of justice and wisdom. Within weeks of becoming bishop, Duncan Wallace was thrust headlong into litigation regarding the residential school abuse. The experience of having served the parish of Fairform First Nations Mission, Manitoba, from 1965 to 1969 was most likely helpful. The Reverend Helena Houldcroft, also involved in the litigation process said, “The Bishop made numerous visits to the reserve to meet with band leadership and others. Money was allocated to support full-time ministry at Gordon's Reserve and surrounding reserves. Arthur Anderson and Dale Gillman, both aboriginal clergy, were appointed.” Deacon Michael Jackson commented on this period saying, “Duncan's inner courage and strength got us through it,” and Archbishop Tom Morgan noted, “Nowhere have his skills
and his non-anxious presence been more tested and appreciated than in matters concerning litigation arising from residential schools.” The battleship and the tugboat worked together to bring about a just conclusion. The full measure of the man is found, not only in his wisdom but in his wit. At one of the May celebrations , on Trinity Sunday, which celebrated Bishop Wallace's 40 years of ministry, a member of St. Paul's Cathedral suggested: “When you see Bishop Duncan Wallace dressed in his full bishop regalia of mitre, staff, cope, it is then that the incongruity becomes most apparent: that this learned man, this leader of the flock most always displays an impish twinkle in his eye and behind it lurks a mischievous sense of humour. He has been known to add a tricky skip step to his exit from the chancel. And his answer to the question of what he thought about his time as bishop he answered, 'It was great fun; well mostly.' That's Duncan.” On another occasion, the story goes, that while living in Milton, Ontario, Duncan Wallace, when hearing that Michael Peers had been elected bishop of Qu'Appelle, quickly sent off a note to Peers citing the liturgical text, “ Oh lord remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
September 2005
Mary Wallace and Bishop Duncan Wallace talking to Pearl Haygarth at the bishop's retirement dinner Photo - Barbara-Lynn Dixon
The steadfast friendly tugboat will be remembered and so will those necessary occasions when the battleship displayed its big guns. Bishop Wallace and Mary Wallace will continue to live in Regina.
Cumberland House evacuation
PRINCE ALBERT - Near the end of June almost all 2000 residents of Cumberland House fled their village as rising floods washed over the only road into the isolated community, 350 km northeast of Prince Albert. The Metis and First Nations community, which is largely Anglican and Roman Catholic, took refuge in Prince Albert, Nipawin and Saskatoon, billeting with friends and relations, and at relief centres. The hub of the relief effort was Prince Albert's Community College, SIAST, where nearly 300 people, many of whom were young mothers and small children, and some of whom were pregnant or in wheelchairs, slept in the gymnasium on cots supplied by the Canadian Red Cross. The Diocese was quick to respond. Bishop Burton was on hand to greet many of the refugees as their buses arrived. Among the arrivals was the Rector of Cumberland House, the Rev. Park Buck, and his family, who subsequently brought a delegation of his parishioners to St. Alban's Cathedral on Sunday. Mr. Buck, in spite of ill health, chose to stay with the people at SIAST rather than move to more comfortable accomdations. The Christian Education Director of the diocese, Noreen Hareuther, with the help of a number of volunteers, conducted a very well attended Vacation Bible School at the relief centre. The Bishop plundered his Discretionary Fund and with Youth Worker Shawn Branch distributed several hundred dollars worth of toys for the children and cribbage games for the elders. "It was fun to be Santa", commented the Bishop. "Certainly it cheered up some obviously disheartened kids." The Rev. Peter and Mary Ann Boote opened their home in Shellbrook to a family of eight. Local clergy visited the relief centre to offer pastoral support. The people were away from their homes for about two weeks. Mr. Buck says that the water level is about normal once again, although the local water cannot be used for drinking.