Nairn sawmill layoffs cost Island 20-plus jobs

by Jim Moodie

NAIRN CENTRE-Some 140 sawmill workers, including about 20 from Manitoulin, were laid off last Friday at the Nairn Centre mill operated by Domtar.

The layoff, which the company is calling 'temporary,' follows an announcement last month that over 100 workers would lose their jobs at the Espanola paper mill operated by the same company.

"These are difficult announcements to make, but the conditions are so challenging right now in the industry that we don't have a choice," Lynne Gibson, communications officer with Domtar in Espanola, told the Expositor. She cited the pressure of higher timber costs and lower demand for both lumber and wood chips as the main factors influencing the decision.

Three Domtar sawmills located in Abitibi, Quebec are also being closed in this latest round of downsizing. Altogether, 950 employees, including forestry workers, are affected.

The 140 workers in Nairn Centre will not be compensated for loss of work, except in the sense that they will be eligible for Employment Insurance for 35 weeks and will continue to have benefits paid for one year. "Because it's a temporary layoff, that's how it generally runs through," said Ms. Gibson.

For Mark Varey of Little Current, an employee at the sawmill for 26 years, the uncertainty of the situation is troubling. "We're being told that we're temporarily laid off but it's an indefinite shutdown of the mill, so it's kind of unreal. Everybody's just hanging by a thread," he said.

The mill worker estimated that eight to 10 people from Little Current were employed at the Nairn Centre operation, with another dozen from Wikwemikong. Most of the employees are in the their mid-40s or older, he said, because only those with 25 years or more of experience were kept following a strike five years ago.

"We used to be the youngest mill (in terms of employees' ages) when I started 26 years ago," said Mr. Varey. "Now we're the oldest. The youngest guy is probably 44 or 45. And some of them are hurt from repetitious work. Where are they going to go?"

Mr. Varey has a job limitation due to a shoulder injury incurred at the mill, and fears it will be difficult to find other work if the mill doesn't reopen.

Some jobs in Nairn Centre will still be available, although "they won't be for a long time and it will only require a handful of individuals," said Ms. Gibson. These roles are in operating a planer mill, which finishes off rough lumber, and through a joint venture line with Day Construction "for the drying and dressing of wood," she said.  "The planer will continue until they run out of inventory," Ms.  Gibson explained, while in the case of the drying/dressing work, "manning will be determined by the joint venture's needs."

The announcement of the closure came a few weeks after talks had been scheduled between management and the CEP union representing the mill workers, who have been without a contract since September 1 of last year, noted Mr. Varey. Employees were told at that point that the company was "either going to take concessions or shut it down."

Ms. Gibson said she couldn't predict when the sawmill might open again. "I don't have a  crystal ball. The market conditions will determine the length of the shutdown."

If the mill turns out to be permanently shut down, as some fear, Mr. Varey said he and his co-workers will then "fight over severance packages." He adds that, "since 98 percent of the workers have over 25 years, they have to receive severance." 

Less than 500 people live in Nairn Centre, which features little other industry, although many of the mill's employees commuted to their jobs from other communities, such as Manitoulin.

Sheg museum urges protection of Strawberry light

by Lindsay Kelly

STRAWBERRY ISLAND-While the Canadian Coast Guard has verified that it has begun a review process of the Strawberry Island lighthouse-the result of which could possibly be the future divestiture of the aging structure-a Coast Guard representative says residents should not be concerned about the imminent destruction of the historical beacon.

Two weeks ago, lighthouse buffs were alarmed to learn that a representative of the Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office had been given the task of evaluating the significance of the lighthouse and assigning it a heritage value. They feared that, if the Coast Guard opted to divest itself of the light, an important part of local marine heritage could be lost forever.

However, Randy Childerhose, supervisor of the marine aids program operating out of the Parry Sound base, said that the Coast Guard has no immediate plans to divest itself of the Strawberry Island lighthouse. "At this point in time, we're not looking at divesting ourselves of the lighthouse," he confirmed.

He noted that no heritage government buildings are altered in any way before taking into consideration their historical significance, which is the primary impetus behind the rating system.

"Some turn out to have a high heritage value and they gain a higher priority," he explained. "Basically, if the maintenance costs are slightly higher and the building is starting to deteriorate, obviously we have to take a look at the most economical option: maintain the wooden structure, or put up a steel tower, but we can't make any changes without having it reviewed."

However, a divestiture of the lighthouse could be part of the future plans of the Coast Guard if the maintenance expenses and taxes become too burdensome in relation to the government's needs for the operation, Mr. Childerhose said. But this doesn't necessarily mean the government is looking to tear down the structure. "There's a possibility we would look at selling the lighthouse and putting a steel tower out at the front," he said.

If the Coast Guard were looking to unburden itself of the lighthouse, "it's not something we would do in secret," he said. "We would let the neighbouring municipalities know."

And, if the government were looking to get rid of the light, there is a specific process that the government must follow before unloading the structure.

First, Mr. Childerhose said, the property would have to be declared surplus to the needs of the Coast Guard, and the government would have to state its intent to sell. The property would be offered to another division of the federal government first. If there were no takers, the provincial government would be offered the property, and if the province turned it down, the municipality would have a crack at it. Only then would a party outside the three-tier system have the opportunity to purchase the land.

Mr. Childerhose pointed to the lighthouse located 25 miles north of Parry Sound at Pointe au Baril as a good example of how a lighthouse can be run successfully by a municipality. The town leases the property out to a former lightkeeper, who greets visitors and offers tours around the property.

While this arrangement wouldn't work for every lighthouse, he suggested that the Strawberry Island light is one of the important ones in the area.

"Strawberry Island is a pretty significant lighthouse," he said. "You see pictures of it in books, and on T-shirts-it's quite popular."

Mr. Childerhose said the Coast Guard has no other plans, at this point, to divest itself of any other lighthouses on the Island or in the surrounding area. Most are too small to have a significant impact on the Coast Guard in terms of the acreage on which it sits (and therefore how much in taxes the government is paying) or in how much maintenance is required for its upkeep, he said.

"For example, Manitowaning, Kagawong, and South Baymouth have small lighthouses and nobody lives in them," he said. "The maintenance costs aren't near what they would be for a whole home."

As to the two larger lighthouses, Mr. Childerhose pointed out that Janet Head is currently being leased, while the Mississagi has an ongoing funding agreement with the Lafarge quarry, while the operation of its facilities is contracted out through the Manitoulin Tourism Association.

In terms of a deadline of when the assessment will be complete and a final decision will be made, Mr. Childerhose said "it seems to vary" depending on the case. Some can take up to a year, while others may take as long as two to three years going through the system before a final decision is arrived upon. "Quite a bit of research is done," he pointed out.

An outline of the kinds of criteria used in the evaluations is available on the Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office website, and includes historical associations, how the structure fits in with an important theme in Canadian history, whether any important Canadian figures have been associated with the structure, and how it fits in with a significant development in the community's history.

"Quite a bit of work goes into that, as far as whether there is some historical value in the structure," Mr. Childerhose said. "Once that comes back and we know how it slots in there, we can take a look at how to proceed from there."

In the meantime, he believes that the light is safe from destruction.

"I certainly don't think anyone is considering tearing down the light," he said. "That's not an option."

Despite Mr. Childerhose's assurances that the lighthouse is safe for now, fears that its divestiture would leave a gaping hole in the area's important marine heritage have catapulted local history buffs into action.

Board members of the Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah's Advisory Board recently put together a recommendation for the Northeast Town council, entitled 'Saving Strawberry,' which was to be discussed yesterday (Tuesday) during a regularly scheduled council meeting.

In compiling its report, the board-chaired by Bill Caesar-indicates it provided a plethora of information to the Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, including information on its role as a navigational aid; the history of the building and its past occupants; an outline of past efforts to save the structure; its importance to area tourism; its sentimental significance for residents and visitors; and the importance of having the lighthouse occupied by a family.

"Things are fluid in government and situations can change very quickly," the board's recommendation reads. "We feel that this would be an opportune time for the municipal council of NEMI to consider how they can best protect this site. The Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office will soon come to their decision and the Coast Guard will do the same. We should ensure that we are in a position to act."

The recommendation goes on to suggest that council determine the disposal procedure "if it were to be put on the market," and contends that organizations such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Great Lakes Cruising Club may have an interest in getting involved in the lighthouse's preservation.

Ferry traffic drops by 7% by Lindsay Kelly

TOBERMORY-As the Chi-Cheemaun pulled into port at Tobermory late Sunday afternoon, it officially finished its 2006 season, one that was marked by lower-than-average numbers.

Ian Dean, marketing director for the Owen Sound Transportation Company (OSTC), said that numbers were generally down this year in comparison to statistics from 2005.

The vessel ferried 81,478 vehicles back and forth this summer, while 87,668 vehicles used the ferry service in 2005, a decrease of 7 percent.

Passenger traffic saw 216,073 take the ferry this summer, while 231,838 passengers used the ferry in 2005, a decrease of 6.8 percent.

In addition, "we missed out on four round-trip trips because of the weather this fall, compared to two last year," Mr. Dean noted.

In mid-August, the OSTC had to temporarily limit sailing times when one of the two main engines broke down. Sailings were reduced from four to three, and sailing times were increased by 30 minutes. This didn't directly affect the ferry statistics, however, since the breakdown occurred mid-week when traffic is slower anyway, Mr. Dean explained.

The marketing director added that passengers sailing on the sunset dinner cruises had increased slightly this year.

In general, the weather remained co-operative throughout the summer, and tourism trends tended to follow the ups and downs of the gasoline industry.

"We were okay in May and June, it slowed down in July and we bounced back in August," Mr. Dean said. "It was a different year, to say the least."

Now the Chi-Cheemaun will undergo a thorough general inspection in Thunder Bay. It is part of a mandatory inspection by Transport Canada that the ferry is required to undergo every five years, Mr. Dean explained.

Following its inspection there, the boat will be transported back to Sarnia where it will undergo the second phase of its two-year retrofit for new parts. Last year, the ship received new generators, a bow thruster motor, boilers and electrical components.

This year, the ferry's two 16-cylinder Ruston diesel engines will be replaced with four, eight-cylinder Caterpillar diesel engines, and back-up equipment will also be installed.

When the ferry does return in the spring, passengers may be paying more to use the service. The OSTC has recommended a slight fare increase for 2007 to meet inflation rates; however, the increase must first be approved by the Ontario government. No changes are planned to the schedule.

442 words + file pic of ferry?

Michael's Bay area can claim four historic shipwrecks

by Lindsay Kelly

TEHKUMMAH-The work of marine heritage researcher Jim Hopkins took centre stage last Friday night at the Michael's Bay Historical Society's annual general meeting, where he revealed the names of four possible shipwrecks-which would have been directly connected to the lumber trade of the time, and therefore the Michael's Bay town site-that he believes may currently lie in the vicinity of Michael's Bay.

A self-proclaimed history buff with 20 years' experience in scuba diving and a penchant for Second World War naval heritage, Mr. Hopkins is a past president and current member of Save Ontario Shipwrecks (SOS), whose mandate is to preserve Ontario marine heritage. His passion is preserving shipwrecks and, like the SOS, maintaining marine heritage 'in situ,' or leaving the artifacts where they are: under water.

Unfortunately, this has not always been the case, and "my contention is that a lot of ships wrecked in shallow waters," he said, "and a lot of stuff was removed from wrecks. It's sitting in barns and garages all over the Island and all over the province, in fact."

In this sense, the mandates of SOS and the Michael's Bay Historical Society are similar, he added.

"With SOS, what we're trying to preserve can't be seen," he said. "It's the same as the Michael's Bay Historical Society, but you're dealing with a few graves and a lot of memories."

While the research done by the society has so far uncovered a plethora of historical information, Mr. Hopkins believes that still more can be gleaned from the vast waters around Michael's Bay. It is with this belief that he set to work researching the wrecks that may have settled in the area.

With so many boats made specifically for the Great Lakes, and with the lumber trade in full swing in the 19th century, it's no surprise that so many were wrecked in the Great Lakes, Mr. Hopkins contended. Around the Island, schooners and lumber hookers-boats used in the lumber trade-were the most popular vessels plying Lake Huron at the time, ferrying lumber from mills like the one at Michael's Bay to US ports like Saginaw and Chicago.

The Northwind is the best example of a wreck in the North Channel, Mr. Hopkins said. The 30-foot freighter, built in 1888 in Cleveland, was rebuilt three times before wrecking on Robinson Rock in 1926, although Mr. Hopkins said some speculate that it was intentionally wrecked for the insurance.

Regardless of it's true history, the Northwind remains "one of the premier wrecks around here," Mr. Hopkins insisted. It's unique in that the engine room is still intact, tools still hang from the wall in the tool room, crewmen's beds still sit in their places in the men's quarters, and the mast still stands upright, despite 80 years under water.

While the possible wrecks at Michael's Bay may not provide as dramatic a historical find as that of the Northwind, enough evidence exists to insinuate that some, or all, of these wrecks may actually exist in the waters near Michael's Bay.

"They may not have wrecked here, but they passed through, and that's all part of the facts that make up the history of the community that is Michael's Bay," Mr. Hopkins said.

From newspaper articles to archives in libraries across the United States, the researcher said he has found evidence that the James Clark is one vessel that could have wrecked in the area. A tug built in 1883, it's relatively short sailing life ended on August 18, 1896 when it purportedly went down on a reef two miles off the shore of Michael's Bay.

The Sylvia Morton could also be a possible wreck. According to Mr. Hopkins' research, the schooner, built in 1863, was cut adrift from the Empire in heavy weather and washed up on Sandy Beach (or 'a sandy beach') at Michael's Bay on October 27, 1887.

A third boat, the Hercules, was rumoured to have gone down 100 feet from the lighthouse at Michael's Bay in 1892.

But, what could be the best find, if it is there, is the Buckeye, a steam barge built in 1856. Although it wrecked early on in its career in the St. Lawrence, it was salvaged, and according to one newspaper article Mr. Hopkins came across-which offers a complete and lengthy account of the barge's demise-was carrying cedar from Michael's Bay when it went down in Island waters.

"I've never heard of anyone diving for the Buckeye before," Mr. Hopkins said, and because of this, the wreck, if there, could provide a very unique exploration experience. "You might see things you don't see around the Island."

Much of this information is purely speculative at this point, since more investigation would be required to verify the existence of any of the wrecks, but Mr. Hopkins said he hoped to continue working with the group in the future.

He suggested starting a photo documentation of the town site, along with the further exploration of its marine heritage, which would be aided by the designation of the area as a heritage site.

Whatever course the research might take, Mr. Hopkins said he was optimistic about the possibilities of the Michael's Bay site and the treasures that may lay within.

"I would very much like to work with the Michael's Bay Historical Society," he said. "There are great things going on over here-great possibilities."

It's been a busy year for the Michael's Bay Historical Society.

Researchers Betty Williamson and Dorothy Ferguson, hired by the society to unearth historical notes of interest about the old lumber town, have been busy collecting bits of information. Several fundraisers held throughout the year have seen success, bringing in funds for the group's ongoing preservation work. And funding applications are in the works so the society can apply for money to formulate a business plan.

EDITORIAL

Michael's Bay an underutilized trove of history, nature

As the candidates for reeve in Tehkummah note in their comments this week (see pages 3 and 5), the Michael's Bay area of the township offers great potential for development as a scenic and historic attraction. We couldn't agree more.

The Manitou River, presently teeming with spawning salmon, is one of the Island's most under-appreciated gems, while the nearby Blue Jay Creek Provincial Park, spanning 246 hectares and hosting rare post-glacial beaches, as well as a second prime spawning stream in the Blue Jay and a large deer-wintering yard, is another underutilized treasure.

The historic town site of Michael's Bay, situated near the falls on the Manitou River, rounds out these natural wonders by providing a link to the Island's lumbering past-indeed, to the very beginning of European settlement in the area.

Michael's Bay was Manitoulin's very first non-Native community, and while the buildings are now entirely gone, detailed maps of the town plot still exist, distinct depressions remain where foundations once existed, and hundreds of artifacts are scattered among museums and homes across the Island.

An additional untapped treasure was identified this weekend during the annual general meeting of the Michael's Bay Historical Society, at which Jim Hopkins of Save Ontario's Shipwrecks pointed out that as many as four significant wrecks-including one that has likely never been observed, let alone disturbed-occupy the depths in and around Michael's Bay.

Surely, between the Island's first European settlement (and only true ghost town), two significant spawning streams, a sprawling provincial park containing storm beaches, and several pristine sub-aquatic magnets for scuba divers, something more can be done to promote the area as a whole and link these various allures and recreational opportunities. To which we could probably add another: based on the massive waves that rolled in against the shore of the bay this past week, there could even be (don't laugh) some potential for surfing here.

To be fair, some strides have been made. The historical society has been painstakingly collecting information and lobbying for the preservation of the town site. The Anstice and Hierons families, along with community supporters, have done a great service in recreating the historic lighthouse and resituating it at the point. Meanwhile, the Manitoulin Streams project has improved a number of eroded bends in the Manitou River, including, quite recently, the very elbow below the falls where the village of Michael's Bay once thrived.

All of these are positive steps towards preserving and reviving the unique area, but more must be done to protect the site and truly realize its tourism potential.

Much of the land in question is privately owned, however, so great care must be taken not to alienate the title holders, be they the Belgian family that owns the historic town site or the various individuals who have land along the banks of the Manitou River and the Michael's Bay shoreline.

Ideally, the land comprising the former town of Michael's Bay could be acquired and set aside as a historic attraction, possibly with an interpretive centre, or signage, at least, that would highlight the location of former buildings. This, in turn, might provide an avenue by which to access the presently landlocked (or difficult to access, at any rate) provincial park, which itself could be modestly developed, with a trail system akin to the one at Misery Bay.

In the meantime, Islanders should be respectful of the land, be it private or public. For to trespass, litter, or otherwise abuse this special area is not only unconscionable, but such disregard would merely serve to spoil whatever  partnerships might be made towards development and public use of the site in the future.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Cardwell St. should be a municipal priority

Is this evidence of discrimination?

To the Expositor:

This letter is in response to the article "Road to Wiky leads votes for worst in province," written by Jim Moodie in the October 11 edition of the Manitoulin Expositor.

You will remember, earlier this year, on April 28, I wrote an open letter to Reeve Leslie Fields, Township of Assiginack, about the deteriorating state of the connecting road between Manitowaning and Wikwemikong, also known as Cardwell Street, and the libelous situation the Assiginack municipality could be potentially placed in as a result of the unsafe road. Also, in my letter, I relayed information on researching potential funding sources the township could access, such as Canada Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF) and the Ontario Strategic Infrastructure Financing Authority (OSIFA).

Reeve Fields promptly responded, by way of a letter dated May 5, 2006, thanking me for my letter and "continued attention to this important matter." In Reeve Fields' letter, she says, "Your points about potential funding sources are correct, but unfortunately Cardwell Street is not the highest priority for the health and safety of all of our ratepayers."

The magic words here are "not the highest priority." Why should it be? It is the only access road leading to a First Nation community, Wikwemikong, therefore the Assiginack municipality deems the road as not a priority. Never mind the fact that it is probably the road most travelled on the east side of the Island. Wikwemikong band and community members, ambulance attendants, police officers, vendors, teachers and tourists use Cardwell Street to get to Wiky. On occasion, I would safely assume even some Assiginack townspeople use that road as well, for one reason or another, whether it be to take in a bingo game or do some shopping at Andy's or at any one of the other businesses in Wikwemikong.

Another point Reeve Fields makes in her letter is that, "the need to make improvements and expand the capacity of our sewage lagoons has been our first and second-round COMRIF submissions." The only conclusion I can draw from this is that expanding a sewage lagoon is more important than improving a road leading to Wiky.

Assiginack township depends heavily upon Wikwemikong band and community members for revenue in the economic area. We do our various levels of personal shopping, at one business or another in Manitowaning. I am puzzled why the township does not take the necessary steps to improve that road to make it safe for all travelers. They want our business, but yet they don't want to fix the road going to their businesses. Another business that draws many visitors and tourists to Manitowaning is the Rainbow Ridge Golf Course, which generates revenue, but also the surrounding businesses in Manitowaning benefit as well. The Rainbow Ridge Golf Course, along with other properties purchased in Manitowaning by Wikwemikong, do pay a hefty amount of municipal taxes; therefore, the landowners, that being Wikwemikong, should be considered a ratepayer. This is my opinion only, but I would assume, seeing as it is the band members of Wikwemikong that own the golf course and the other properties, we would be considered ratepayers as well. Personally, as a ratepayer, I would like to see my municipal taxes going towards improving the condition of Cardwell Street.

Lowering the speed limit and designating Cardwell Street as a community safety zone is not going to fix the problem. Widening and re-surfacing the road might work, but not these band-aid patch jobs.

Why do we have to wait for a serious accident or, worse yet, a vehicle fatality to occur, before something is done to rectify the situation?

If Manitowaning doesn't want to fix the road, then I would assume Manitowaning does not want our business. Maybe Wikwemikong band members and community members should boycott the businesses in Manitowaning and take their business to Little Current, Espanola or elsewhere until Cardwell Street is fixed properly.

True, the road to Wiky may get the most votes for worst road in the province, but seriously readers, do you think the current municipal council of Assiginack is going to do anything about the situation? My question is, is this evidence of discrimination or racism? After all, it is only an access road going into an Indian reservation.

Jean Oshkabewisens

Wikwemikong

Huron water level protest applauded

But let's examine the role of the Chicago diversion

To the Expositor:

I read with interest your article concerning the declining water level in Lake Huron ("Superior decline, St. Clair erosion spell trouble for Lake Huron," October11). I certainly endorse the great work being done by Mary Muter and the Georgian Bay Association. I was particularly intrigued to learn that some Americans sport T-shirts saying "845 million gallons per day diversion in the St. Clair River." I wonder if those people realize that more than two billion gallons per day are being diverted out of the Lake Huron-Michigan Basin through the sewers of Chicago and into the Mississippi River? I feel that this just points up the need to examine all the factors contributing to a major problem before deciding that a single solution will suffice. Certainly, the St. Clair River has been abused and must be rehabilitated. But let's not assume that that will bring the water back up. That won't happen until problems like the Chicago Diversion are rectified as well. This of course will not happen until or unless some Canadian politicians awaken to the crisis. Please visit our websites at www.algonquin-eco-watch.com andwww.arctic-waters-threatened.com. Thank you for your efforts in bringing this important issue to the attention of the public.

Mike Wilton

Dominion Bay

Election cartoon found tasteless

To the Expositor:

So it's time to vote for our mayor and members of council. Time for the signs to be placed on people's yards, time for our mail boxes to have written hopeful promises from those who are serious candidates. But we also get the cartoon from our current mayor who, in my opinion, takes this campaign as a joke.

As a community, we must consider the issues that are important and vote for the right people to represent us. As a young voter, I find the cartoon an insult to my intelligence.

Kelly McVey

Little Current