Daystar group remains at Wiky despite shakeup among partners

by Heather Pennie

WIKWEMIKONG-The Daystar ministry in Wikwemikong will soldier on, but with fewer troops, as a schism with an affiliated mission group has prompted an exodus of volunteers.

Approximately 25 years ago, Shirley Hamilton, a member of the Canadian Sunday School Mission (CSSM), first ventured to Manitoulin Island. Ms. Hamilton was involved in hosting Christian day camps, a week at a time, and this program "grew and grew," she said, eventually becoming the all-encompassing Daystar network that exists today, staffed by contract workers and volunteers, with their site acting as a haven in the community of Wikwemikong.

There is a group of volunteers that has been working with Daystar, however, which is poised to withdraw from the community. These missionaries belong to the nationwide CSSM organization.

Jim Snell, Ontario branch director for CSSM ministries, explained that missionaries from CSSM were attracted to the Daystar ministry because of the good work it does in Wikwemikong. "As far as CSSM was concerned, it was an appreciated and celebrated ministry among the Native people," he said.

Recently, however, there has been a divergence between Daystar and the CSSM missionaries, who formed the Eagle Ridge Community located outside of Wikwemikong.

Mr. Snell indicated that there were differences that could not be resolved. "Through a number of mediation attempts without success, this has resulted in various types of separations," he said.

The division has led to a "ministry environment that has become unhealthy for everyone concerned and we are preparing to withdraw our staff from the Island," said the CCSM representative, although he didn't rule out the idea of missionaries returning at some point. "We will continue to monitor the situation and consider future possibilities for CSSM work on Manitoulin," noted Mr. Snell.

According to Mr. Snell, the Canadian Sunday School Mission's history dates back to 1927. "Its primary focus is to work with Sunday Schools," he noted. With its roots in Manitoba, the ministry "spread across Canada."

He went on to explain that each province, including Ontario, has a different emphasis. "Today they have camps, are involved with the setting up churches in remote towns, (and host) vacation Bible clubs," he said. This includes work on Manitoulin.

Regarding Ms. Hamilton's Daystar ministry, Mr. Snell said his mission has been "supportive of that ministry. There was a great need, and it reaches to the North Shore and further beyond."

Individuals associated with CSSM have been volunteering their time and services in the community of Wikwemikong, notably within the school setting, as part of the broader Daystar mandate.

"Over the years, various volunteers had come to the (Daystar) ministry, off and on," said Mr. Snell, noting that "12 or 13 staff were assisting, as missionaries or interns, over the last three or four years."

With the departure of many of these volunteers, it will fall to a restructured Daystar organization to maintain an evangelical Christian presence in the community. "The new organization-Daystar ministry, Shirley Hamilton and her new board-will continue on with the Daystar name (and) work will continue," said Mr. Snell.

According to the website of Daystar Native Outreach, CSSM's operating style was incompatible with the original vision for Daystar, making the establishment of a new board necessary. This board was struck in January of this year, and the ministry was registered under the name Daystar Native Christian Outreach.

The work of the CSSM missionaries within the community of Wikwemikong has been a considerable asset, especially in their presence within the school system. These individuals have been involved with coaching athletics, mentoring students, providing schoolyard supervision and helping out at hot dog days.

Daystar Native Outreach will be remaining within the community as "a stand-alone entity," stated Ms. Hamilton, and will continue to provide vast array of beneficial services.

The Daystar Centre houses an after-school drop-in for youth, women's programs, a very successful men's breakfast program, and runs a clothing depot as well. Their building, which is located next to Holy Cross in Wikwemikong, boasts of a bistro cafŽ, games room, meeting room, and a children's room.

The Daystar Centre also offers a meeting place for its Sunday Fellowship, hosts an elders' gathering every month, serves as a shelter for young women needing support, and provides office space for a marriage and family therapist who uses the building two days per week for counselling.

"We are basically a Christian non-profit organization," said Ms. Hamilton. The organization "currently has two Wikwemikong employees under contract, with hopes of hiring another," she said, and counts many local Wikwemikong volunteers.

As to whether Daystar itself may be leaving the community, Ms. Hamilton quickly dismissed this allegation. "Oh, no-we're alive and well."

In fact, the Daystar Native Outreach organization will be featured this week on 100 Huntley Street, the Christian television program. Ms. Hamilton was pleased to announce that on April 30 and May 1, segments will be aired about Daystar's work within the community of Wikwemikong.

Ratepayers start Billings focus group

by Sharon Jackson

KAGAWONG-Approximately 30 people gathered at the Park Centre to discuss the possibility and benefit of forming a ratepayers' association last week. While those in attendance hope to "support council in their decisions," that may not be how everyone in the township perceives the objective of the proposed formation of this group.

Organizer Sharon Alkenbrack opened the meeting by thanking everyone for coming and stating that the purpose of the ratepayers' association would be to have representation from the group attend council meetings and provide members of the community with an update of decisions made.

What Ms. Alkenbrack described as a "lack of communication between the people (in the township) and council" could be resolved by establishing "how we can tap into help from the community to go down the road with them," offered resident John Christian.

Four members of the community were elected to council to represent the residents of Billings Township, and whether the decisions they make are ones everyone agrees with or not, it was agreed by everyone in attendance that working with council is very important and that they need "ideas and people to help have dialogue to see where we can go," said Brian Deeg.

There were no members of council present at the meeting; however, they were aware of the meeting and the opinions of its possible purpose.

If members of the group attend council meetings to "monitor" what they are doing, "it will not work," commented Councillor Brian Parker, when reached after the meeting for comment. If the group wants to offer positive and constructive ideas then they will be heard and suggestions considered, he suggested.

The term "ratepayers' association" was promptly replaced with "community focus group." Resident John Foster was quick to declare he was leery of the term ratepayers' association as it tends to have a negative connotation. Being "critical of council's decisions is not where I am coming from," he said. "This is our home."

The aim of the formation of the group, according to Ms. Alkenbrack, is to get "enough interest and commitment to work with council to ensure quality of life does not change" in our community.

Mike Coomes echoed Ms Alkenbrack's comment, saying, "we have many talented people with lots of good ideas and positive things happening here."

Many in attendance felt it was only natural for council to go into defence mode as they believe council members have a very tough and thankless job, and that decisions they make, on the taxpayers' behalf, are not always popular. But they acknowledged that council is doing its best.

Susie De Kuyper reminded everyone that minutes of council meetings are available on the township's website. Some information may seem limited, but if anyone wanted to get more details they can contact the clerk or visit the office in person, she noted.

Mike Farquhar suggested that the group act as a liaison between council and members of the general public and that minutes of the focus group's meetings could be made available to council "to use for information and guidance." Mr. Coomes, who sends emails to a community distribution list, offered to make these minutes available to everyone on it, including summer residents.

In continuing to be a "forward-thinking community" Linda Ferguson suggested the focus group initiative could "snowball into a volunteer situation where people can help in the community."

When asked by Ms. Alkenbrack for a show of hands of how many would be willing to give their time to get this going, approximately 25 percent raised their hands.

It was suggested that a group of four get together to work on a presentation or letter to council and that a spokesperson from this foursome speak on the group's behalf.

The next question was "How do we approach them?" "We need to send a letter to council to give a good feel for our intent," noted Mr. Christian.

Being informed of what is happening in the township seemed to be the common concern of those at the meeting. Not everyone has access to the Internet so they are not able to go online to read the council minutes, it was noted.

Mr. Foster suggested that each person contact 10 others to let them know what was going on in the township following the council meetings. This would "build communication and invite people to become involved," he said.

The focus group could also be involved in other aspects of the township, it was suggested. One example was assisting the Billings Economic Development Association (EDC) in upcoming events for the year as well as assisting in plans for the township's 125th anniversary taking place in July of this year.

Mr. Deeg summed up the meeting by saying, "If we are going to be effective, we have to be supportive of council and committees of council." Some of these committees include property, finance, and public works.

It was agreed that a letter will be drafted and sent to council to be read at the next meeting, which is scheduled for May 4.

Haweater invited to tryouts for national female under-18 squad

by Jim Moodie

CALGARY-A hockey player with Wiky roots is among an elite group of young women with a shot a cracking the lineup of Canada's under-18 team.

In mid-April, Hockey Canada revealed the names of 44 invitees to a strength and skating camp slated for May 7-10 in Calgary, at which players will be assessed by under-18 officials and have the opportunity to move on to a selection camp in July. Among these national team hopefuls is Kelly Babstock, whose mom, Donna, is a member of the Wassegijig family of Wikwemikong.

The 16-year-old hockey phenom was raised in Mississauga, but spends most summers in Wiky and was actually born on Manitoulin, so can be rightfully claimed as a Haweater.

Her parents weren't living on the Island at the time of her birth, but a pregnant Donna had returned to Manitoulin for the funeral of her grandfather, Boniface Wassegijig, and "went into labour on the day of the funeral," she explained.

The timing was awkward, but also strangely fitting. "As the nurse at the hospital in Little Current said, 'God never closes a door without opening a window,'" noted Donna. And since the Mississauga hockey mom considers Manitoulin her true home, "it was a great honour to have Kelly born there."

Babstock started out playing on competitive AA boys' teams in Mississauga, but has skated for the past two seasons with the Toronto Aeros of the Provincial Women's Hockey League (PWHL), a team she led in scoring this year en route to a first-place finish in regular season results and a silver medal in the PWHL championship.

Apart from her lamp-lighting abilities, Babstock is also a feisty and physical player, who racked up more penalty minutes than any other Aero in 2008/'09, although her mother qualified that this owed largely to her "making the adjustment from boys' hockey, where she was used to more contact."

She also developed her aggressive style of play through lacrosse, another sport in which she excels. Playing last summer for the Mississauga Tomahawk midget girls, Babcock scored three of her team's four goals, including the winner, to capture the Provincial Lacrosse Festival in Whitby.

But hockey is her main passion, and she takes pride in playing for Aboriginal teams when she's not suiting up for the Aeros. In March, the 5'6" centre led the Wikwemikong Hawks midget girls to a gold medal at the Little NHL, with sis Harmony, a year her junior, playing a key role on the team as well.

Another younger sister, Shenoah, has also played in the Little NHL tournament in the past, but the 14-year-old took this year off to focus on gymnastics. "Shenoah has retired twice from hockey, but she'll probably play again," laughed her mom.

Both Kelly and Harmony were named to this year's edition of Team Ontario North, which will be competing at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC) in Winnipeg in early May, but Kelly will now have to pass on this tournament because the timing conflicts with the under-18 conditioning camp.

Asked how she felt about the opportunity to skate with the country's best young female talents, Babstock said: "Overwhelmed." It's her first opportunity to audition with the national squad and, while she knows some of the Ontario players who will be attending, many of the faces will be unfamiliar.

If she's nervous, though, that feeling will likely vanish as soon as she gets on the ice. A fierce competitor with no fear of going into the corners or crashing the net, Babstock said she models her style of play after Alexander Ovechkin, the NHL's top goal-getter.

Unfortunately, she won't be able to demonstrate her touch with the puck at this particular camp, as the emphasis is on strength and skating, not stickhandling or shooting. "The 44 players will be put through fitness testing and skating drills over the course of the four-day camp," reads a press release from Hockey Canada, adding that "there will be no pucks on the ice."

The camp will also serve as an opportunity for staff to "get to know the players and give them off-ice training techniques, as well as proper nutritional guidance."

Invitees "were selected by Hockey Canada's regional scouts, in co-operation with club teams and Hockey Canada's 13 branches," according to the release. Based on players' performance at this camp, "Hockey Canada officials will make their selections for a July under-18 camp, which will lead to selections for the National Women's Under-18 Team for the 2009/'10 season."

Babstock faces some stiff competition to make the final roster. Eight of the players invited to the strength and skating camp were among the under-18ers who took silver for Canada at the IIHF World Women's Under-18 Championship in Germany this year, and seven suited up for Canada for a three-game series against the US in Lake Placid.

But whether she cracks the final lineup or not, it's an honour to simply be invited, and Islanders can be proud to have a representative among the cream of the country's teen female hockey crop.

Married and at the Manor

Several couples call the home for the aged 'home'

by Michael Erskine

LITTLE CURRENT-One of the most heart-wrenching decisions a couple must make during their marriage is in dealing with the moment that one of them is in need of a level of care which the other is longer no longer able to provide. Rather than one member staying at home and the other entering a long-term care facility, a growing number of couples are opting to enter the nursing home together.

Ensuring that couples can remain together is a challenge for the Manitoulin Centennial Manor, noted seniors activity coordinator Nina Coates. "But so far we have managed to accommodate everyone here," she said.

Although most of the residents of the Manor are women, a demographic artifact of their longevity, the first of each of the couples interviewed for this article were actually women, with the men following their spouses sometimes within a week or so-the longest remaining apart lasting just over a year.

"The wives led us in," chuckled Gordon Cooke, whose wife entered the Manor 13 months before he joined her.

Bud McConnell travelled to the Manor from the couple's Sheguaindah home each and every day, remaining with his wife Dorothy until after the lights out. His decision to enter the Manor to join his wife was, in the end, a very practical as well as romantic one.

With 65 years of marriage in the bank, Roy Wadge lasted about four weeks before he decided to join his wife Lucie in the Manor as well.

"We have been together 65 years," he said. He couldn't bear the separation either. They had spent too many years tending the flowers in their garden each day of the summer to now stay apart at night.

The couples share rooms in the Fielding Wing of Manitoulin Centennial Manor, and the staff try to accommodate them as much as possible. "We had some juggling to do at the start," said Ms. Coates. "But we got it all sorted out pretty good."

While life in a long-term care facility takes come getting used to, for many couples the decision seems so obvious to most once it is made and the pair have settled in to their new digs. The quality of life for both couples tends to go up dramatically, as the more able partner is relieved of many of the medical and heavy physical matters of care and can concentrate on the lighter touches, while the other receives the medical and other specialized care from highly trained professionals.

"You see complete devotion," said Ms. Coates of the couples' interactions. "It is so touching."

These couples have taken the vows 'til death do us part' seriously, and the opportunity to stay together despite the interference of age and infirmity is a blessing they say makes them very happy.

Editorial

Michael Ignatieff's maturity used as selling point

Those Canadians who receive Zoomer magazine, media entrepreneur Moses Znaimer's newest project, will have seen that a photograph of acting Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff graces the cover of the current edition.

Mr. Znaimer in recent years took over the Canadian Association of Retired People (CARP) and the Zoomer magazine is a spinoff initiative. Zoomer is supposed to define an active senior and, lately, the magazine's covers have featured a series of famous and vigorous Canadians. The catch line "He's (or she's) one!" accompanies each of the cover-filling photos and so those of our population in our 60-plus years are being presented with a series of role models as we file for our Canada Pension Plans and Old Age Security benefits.

It's a clever idea, but Mr. Ignatieff, as he goes to Vancouver this week to face a delegated Liberal leadership convention, has the rare good fortune to be effectively the only one in the running for the leader's position and so this little bit of publicity in the seniors' sector, while it certainly won't do him any harm, probably doesn't matter that much for the job for which he's running.

It is, however, interesting to know that Mr. Ignatieff is a senior; at the very least, he's someone over 60 and so this fact alone positions him somewhat differently from the other party leaders Prime Minister Steven Harper, NDP leader Jack Layton and Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe purposely projected a youthful image-and the promise of idealism that this implies-when each sought his particular party's leadership, just as Mr. Ignatieff's predecessor, Stephane Dion, did only two and a half years ago when he ran successfully to lead the Liberals.

We have to suspect that there was some subtle campaigning by Mr. Ignatieff's handlers to have him featured so prominently on the cover of the national seniors publication just prior to the Vancouver convention, and that this may represent the beginning of a larger campaign to differentiate this leader-by dint of his age and the wisdom this implies-from Mr. Harper, Mr. Layton and Mr. Duceppe.

This would also take into consideration the enormous bloc of seniors in this country (which as a cadre, turns out to vote in greater proportion to its numbers compared to younger voters) who will be presented with the image of an energetic, intelligent, erudite person who has not been a career politician, and has had marked success in a number of fields (journalism, as an author, academia) and who is already well connected in both Europe and the United States specifically because of his age and previous experience.

Since Canadian politics has lately and unfortunately come to focus, at least at election time, much more on the leaders' personal attributes and less on the party's platform, in all likelihood we will see Mr. Ignatieff sold (at least to some extent) directly to seniors.

We will also, predictably, see the Tories fight back, shortly after Mr. Ignatieff is confirmed as national Liberal leader this week, just as they did when the Liberals chose Stephane Dion as their leader in late 2006.

It's also predictable that Mr. Ignatieff will prove a more difficult target than did Mr. Dion and that, should there be senior buy-in to the Liberals new leader, a negative campaign would easily serve to cause the Conservatives some grief.

It will be interesting to see how (and if) this kind of reverse ageism affects the Canadian political scene, especially since we're practically guaranteed to see another election within a few months of the Liberals formally putting their new national leader in place.

Letters to the Editor

Ministry ignoring importance of Highway 6 thoroughfare

Bumpy stretch reminiscent of corduroy roads

To the Expositor:

I read with interest the article about Highway 6, from 10 Mile Point to Hilly Grove ("Highway 6 users bemoan bumpy state of pavement," April 1). When I drive over it, I think I am back on the old corduroy roads when I was a child (born in Sandfield in 1922).

The Ministry of Transportation knows the importance of this highway. Do your politicians keep up to date on your needs? You do not need to hire any planners to give you the answer. How many cars travel on the ferry to save miles? Larry Killens certainly knows what is needed on the largest freshwater Island in the world. He did an excellent job with the Ministry of Education! Has he ever thought of a political position?

Good roads, motels, restaurants, and historical points of interest certainly aid the economy. I recently visited St. Joseph Island for a pancake breakfast and drove the circle route and was amazed at the excellent roads, along with the bridge, that had been put in under the Gilberstson regime.

Can Manitoulin get up to date soon?

Kenneth F. Anstice

Sault Ste. Marie

MP castigated for failure to vote on gun registry bill

Another example of how riding is poorly served

To the Expositor:

I think it is important to let your readers know that Carol Hughes (NDP) failed to show up on Parliament Hill last week to vote on the long gun registration bill. Apparently showing up for work just isn't important to Carol Hughes. Whether you were for or against gun registration Carol Hughes let you down. The sad truth is that we had no-one representing our interests in Ottawa-again.

In my opinion this is just the most recent example of how poorly served we are with Carol Hughes as our member of parliament. Our riding deserves a lot more than just another back-bench NDP MP who fails to show up to vote on important issues.

Joe Chapman

Little Current