Leg # 4… A relatively short trip this time round but the highlight came when we left the prairies behind for the Canadian Shield. Rivers, Lakes, Forests, Rocks… all seemed to instantaneously spring up from the plains. Beautiful ride, which was spent speaking with a TV/Film producer, a Special Education Teacher traveling with her family from small town Saskatchewan, and a couple from Germany.
The train stopped in Minaki, the site of my mom’s family’s cottage while she was growing up. From what I have heard, many a fun time and adventure were had there! Kind of neat to catch a glimpse of the village… and the lake of course!
Soon there after, and only 2 hours later than expected, I arrived in Sioux Lookout. I picked up my bags and started to make my way up the hill towards my Bed and Breakfast. Or so I thought… more on that in a second.
Sioux Lookout is a town of 5,000 or so situated in the Northwest of Ontario. Surrounded by Lakes… Pelican, Abram, and Little Vermillion, and Forests the area is filled with scenery that many would envision when they think of Northern Ontario. Including floatplane docks, dozens of fishing boats/fisher-people lining the shores, and spectacular sunsets. There is a reason they call this region – Sunset Country!
Although small, Sioux Lookout is a hub of services for the area. It has a hospital, association for Community Living, Multicultural Youth Centre, a recreation complex, arena, and a long term care facility. There are also ambulatory clinics, two taxi companies, and several stores and restaurants. And thankfully for me, a number of hotels…
You see, the plan was to stay in the Bed and Breakfast in town. However, when I arrived at the door, there didn’t seem to be anyone home. I knocked… no answer. I rang every door bell I could see. Still, no answer. Concerned that perhaps I had the wrong address, I pulled out my cell phone. Dead. My laptop, with little battery power of its own, would also therefore be useless. Thankfully, my Northern survival skills kicked in…;). I remembered that people plug in their cars here during the winter. SO… I found a parking lot near the adult learning centre (if anyone was going to have wireless) and ‘plugged in’. I looked like an international spy! Sure enough, I was up and running… my investigation showed that I had the right place. I punched some numbers into the memory of my cellphone and like a superhero not wanting to rouse to much suspicion about their secret identity (in my case… ‘tourist’), I packed up my equipment and sauntered on.
I decided that I would call one of those cabs I had seen and make my way to the Best Western, which was advertised on one of the benches. Just as I was about to call, two women in a car pulled up beside me. “Are you trying to stay at the Bed and Breakfast?” So much for going incognito…;). A little taken a back… I answered yes. “I think they are away. But we can call if you want. Hop in?”.
Hop in where, I thought. Their car? “Ummm, no that’s okay”, I replied while thinking…You are STRANGERS. Elmer the Safety Elephant would be very disappointed in me if I got in your car.
“Are you lost? We just saw you and thought that if you were trying to stay at the Bed and Breakfast that you might need help?”. At this point, the black flies were eating me alive, I was tired, and I didn’t get the sense that these women were axe murderers. After a few brief exchanges, swatting bugs like a mad man, and contemplation of the fact that there were now enough witnesses and I was in possession of a well formulated escape plan….;)… I decided to stick it to Elmer (this time anyway…) and ‘hop in’.
Janete and Maylynn both had recently immigrated to Sioux Lookout from the Philippines. Both commented on how much they “love it here” and have really taken to the outdoors. In fact, they were just on their way back from a fishing expedition when they spotted me. They were excited to hear that I had seen a great deal of Canada and I was glad to answer their questions. Their kindness, hospitality, and good nature will never be forgotten.
We arrived at their apartment and Janete promptly offered me a wide array of beverages and snacks. “Don’t be shy…” she said. I was indeed hungry/thirsty, so was quite glad for a slab of banana cake and a bottle of water. They then made a flurry of phone calls to confirm what we had thought… the bed and breakfast owners were indeed on vacation. “We will drive you to a hotel. The Best Western is the best”, Maylynn said after hanging up the phone. “But, we will have supper first”.
A feast of fried Walleye – Maylynn goes fishing EVERY night, so there was plenty in stock -, rice, and veggies. We chatted about how they came to Sioux Lookout… Janete had come as a Nanny and now works in residential care/services. Maylynn was sponsored by her workplace to work in health care. Both had made many friends and commented on the joys of small towns.
After supper, we did a quick driving tour of the town… “Now you will know where to go!”, said Janete. On the way, they pointed the government housing that serves as accommodations for members of the First Nations community living in town. “Many of them came into town when their drinking water went bad”, she explained. The reserves here are mostly remote and economically desolate. With high unemployment rates and many in ill health, the government has arranged for housing closer to the ‘urban’ centres to allow for increased access to services.
My privilege has been something that I have always tried to remain cognizant of… naturally, on this adventure, my appreciation for what I have, opportunities presented to me, and support systems has increased 20 fold (even though it was pretty high to begin with). As we continue our drive, my mind commits to better understanding how in a nation with a daunting percentage of the world’s fresh water supply, that we have people living with little or no access to potable water. That, and ensuring that I continue to bare witness to and contribute where I can to sustainable solutions for the many living in abject poverty right under our noses….
We pull up to the Best Western and after checking in, I say good night to Maylynn and Janete. We made plans to meet after they finish work tomorrow… “We will show you around!”. Northern Hospitality at its finest!!
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