South Baymouth loses post office in pre-dawn fire

by Lindsay Kelly

SOUTH BAYMOUTH-An early-morning fire that burned so hotly it melted the siding of an adjacent building has destroyed the post office in South Baymouth.

The fire broke out around 5:30 am on Thursday morning, and the Tehkummah Volunteer Fire Department received a call to respond about 15 minutes later.

"It was fairly early-the sun was just coming up," Tehkummah Fire Chief Gary Brown said. "We're lucky there was no wind."

The fire chief, who was first on the scene, hauled out hoses that were left over from the fire department's old fire truck and hooked them up to the hydrants. He and a few residents began attacking the blaze while waiting for the fire trucks to arrive. Crews arrived on the scene a short time later, which the fire chief said "was pretty good since they likely came from sleep."

By the time the fire crews arrived-both the Assiginack and Central Manitoulin fire departments responded to the blaze as backup, with Assiginack assisting in putting out the fire-the blaze was "coming up through the kitchen area," leading crews to suspect that the fire may have started in that vicinity, although no cause has been determined, Fire Chief Brown said.

Crews spent an hour and a half attending the blaze and had it contained at about 7:30 am, he noted.

The 100-year-old building, which also housed Island Fish and Chips, could not be saved, and by Friday morning, all that was left was a charred skeleton.

Postmistress Sharlene Elliott-who also owns and operates the fish and chips business-said that by the time she arrived on the scene "it was about 6 am and there was nothing left. Not even flames."

By Friday Ms. Elliott was set up in a temporary post office that was promptly provided in the new building of the Red School House Museum complex. In fact, the town didn't go without a post office at all. Ms. Elliott explained that Mr. Brown, Tehkummah's reeve as well as fire chief, had offered the museum space for Canada Post's use immediately after the fire. Thursday's incoming mail was delivered there, on time, at 9 am Thursday morning.

"Word got around quickly where the post office had been relocated," Ms. Elliott said. "And I put up a sign on the garage beside the burned building." The postmistress even hand-delivered some mail Thursday to local patrons.

"People are so kind," she observed, noting that on the day of the fire, a tourist couple (whom she didn't know) had dropped by the temporary post office to ask where they could make a donation to help whoever had been affected by the fire. She explained to them that it had been herself, and thanked them for the offer.

The future site of the South Baymouth post office will in all likelihood be either on the site of the burned building or in the adjacent garage where Ms. Elliot had planned to move the post office anyway when the Island Fish and Chips business was sold.

The irony is that on the Wednesday before the fire, Ms. Elliott had had a strong expression of interest in her business from an off-Island couple.

Because the fire struck the last day of the month, there was little impact on mail receipt. "In this community, people come and pick up their mail pretty much every day so there wasn't much mail in the post office."

Wednesday is 'paper day' for The Expositor, Ms. Elliot noted, so people had been in the day before to get their news and their other mail at the same time. As well, "government cheques had been delivered a few days earlier, so people had picked them up," she added.

The old post office safe that was used to store cash and stamps also held up to the fire and water. Ms Elliott said that when Manitowaning postmaster Steve Shaffer was able to open the safe, the cash was "only slightly singed" on the top of the pile and he thought the stamps had survived the fire in the safe as well.

Ms. Elliott said her building was fully insured but she isn't required to rebuild. As of last Friday, she said she didn't know about the future of Island Fish and Chips. She said she understood the cause of the fire was an electrical fault.

Fire Chief Brown cites the fact that there was no wind as a major factor in fire crews being able to contain the blaze. Aside from a few scorched holes, a tent that was set up adjacent to the building was left untouched.

That the town has access to water, which was installed a few years ago and which the residents were able to access early on in the blaze, was also an important factor in its containment, the fire chief added.

A nearby structure escaped with relatively few damages, although the melted siding along the outer wall indicates how intensely hot the fire was burning. "On the building to the east, the siding was fried," the fire chief noted. "It could have got a whole lot worse if we didn't have water. The fire went fast and the heat was just radiating out."

A crew spent Friday cleaning up the mess; the remainder of the building was taken down for safety, and trucks hauled the debris away, the fire chief said.

Because the fire involved an office of the federal government, the Ontario Fire Marshal's office was brought in to investigate, although the results of the inquiry, including the cause of the blaze, aren't expected for several weeks.

"It's hard to determine-it was pretty well charred," Fire Chief Brown said. "It will be a couple of weeks to a month before the report is released."

The Canada Post outlet will be housed in the nearby museum until further notice. The phone number for Ms. Elliott in her temporary post office is 859-3663.

Peaceful protestors ask for change

in demonstration at Island CAS_office

by Michael Erskine

LITTLE CURRENT-Mason Dugas and his young friends picked up placards and marched chanting back and forth outside the Manitoulin offices of the Children's Aid Society (CAS) in Little Current for about an hour last Friday.

Mr. Dugas and his friends were joined by around 30 fellow protestors of all ages, although some admitted to being there to support the young man's right to express his concerns in a peaceful and democratic way. Others clearly had their own agendas with the Children's Aid Society, although for the most part Mr. Dugas's message remained coherently his.

The protest proceeded despite a meeting held between the children and CAS executive director Colette PrZvost on Tuesday. Perspectives on how that meeting went were decidedly different.

Ms. PrZvost said that while she met with the young protestor, it was difficult to answer many of his questions because they were very specific to one particular case-thereby being interdicted by the requirements of protecting the privacy rights of a ward of the CAS.

Mr. Dugas, in turn, was adamant that from his perspective the meeting was a complete wash. "They couldn't answer any of my questions," he said. He said that he could not recall receiving answers to his questions even in general terms. "I asked the questions expecting answers," he said. "They said, 'We can't tell you that.'"

Mr. Dugas said that the CAS had sent out a letter (a copy of which was provided to the Expositor) warning foster parents that the demonstration might be an inappropriate place to bring children. "They said they were afraid bad people might come by," said Mr. Dugas. When asked if he had seen any 'bad people' at the protest, Mr. Dugas shook his head in the negative.

Mr. Dugas maintains that his primary concern is ensuring that the Children's Aid Society investigates where they place children thoroughly to ensure they are not putting the child at risk. His particular concern was about a young friend of his who was placed in a home where he understands there were drugs and alcohol being used. He maintains that the CAS did not act in a timely enough fashion to protect his friend and to remove the friend from that environment.

"I asked them why they won't ever admit they were wrong," said Mr. Dugas. "Their answer was 'I know I do, but I can't speak for other people.'"

In her interview with the Expositor, Ms. PrZvost said that the decision processes under which the CAS operates are very complex, and difficult even for more experienced adults to understand. "There are very many levels of sophistication in our system," she said. "Even adults have a difficult time."

Ms. PrZvost noted that the requirements of protecting and respecting the privacy of children can make communication in situations like these very frustrating for all parties involved. But she stressed that, contrary to the impression being given by the protesting children and their supporters, there does exist a very stringent system of accountability for the CAS.

While claims have been made that the CAS does not have a system of independent oversight, Ms. PrZvost said that nothing could be further from the truth. The CAS internal complaint process provides a first level in an attempt to deal with a complainant's concerns. When that process does not solve the issue, Child and Family Services will review the matter in a provincially-mandated legal process.

"There is a third-party review whereby an agency with no connection to the CAS will come and hear the matter," said Ms. PrZvost.

In addition, every year a number of cases of the CAS receive a random audit to ensure that legal standards are being met by the CAS. "We have no control over which cases are reviewed," noted Ms. PrZvost.

Ms. PrZvost clarified that the CAS concerns with the demonstration were more to do with the appropriateness of the venue as a means of communication. "The information picket, as I understand it to be, is about kids having something to say," she said. "I am not sure they have said it in a way that they feel confident they have been heard."

Ms. PrZvost said she would have preferred to see the demonstration held in a venue such as a school gymnasium. "My concern is that this process really flirts with the danger of children being exploited by other people for their own purposes," she said. "I would have preferred to see this take place in a more child-friendly forum."

Larry Killens, a Providence Bay resident and Rainbow School Board trustee, joined the children on the picket line.

"I support these kids," he said. "I am proud of these kids, not only just our Island kids, for standing up and speaking out about things that concern them in a peaceful way."

Mr. Killens went on to say that he is in support of an initiative to have the CAS placed under the purview of the Ontario Ombudsman's Office. "Basically, every province in Canada has a process of oversight for child and family services," he said. Ontario, he claims, does not.

Ms. PrZvost was adamant that that point of view is not reflective of reality. The CAS, she maintained, is very closely monitored and reviewed. "We are looking after the welfare of children," she said. "That is how it must and should be."

Mr. Killens, in his capacity as school trustee, is currently working on a protocol for interaction between the CAS and the Rainbow board. He said he had been concerned over liability issues as there was no formal policy in place. He praised the school board administration for their diligence in getting the policy in place. "My compliments to the director of education for confronting this huge concern," he said. "Without this commitment by the board we would not now have it."

Mr. Killens expressed his disappointment at Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Mike Brown and the premier of Ontario, suggesting that the region's member of the Ontario legislature should have been at the protest and that the province needs to step in to ensure proper care is being given to the province's youth.

Off-Island media attended the event. With television cameras whirring, a TV journalist interviewed the young protestor and others on the scene.

Although a police cruiser drove past the demonstration twice during the hour, there was no overt police presence at the demonstration. Occupants of other offices at the building complex which houses the CAS were requested by the agency to park their cars at the far end of the parking lot to help ensure the children's safety.

Another group of young people was holding a demonstration at the corner of Highway 6 and Meredith Street-where they continued to wave their placards long after the central picket had closed down and everyone had gone home.

Mr. Dugas said he was pleased with the turnout for the demonstration he had organized. He expressed some confusion over the online petition to have the CAS overseen by the Ontario Ombudsman. "I just want them to be more careful about where they are putting kids," he said. "I don't want anymore kids being put in places that aren't safe."

He also wanted to share the credit for the demonstration's success. "I want to thank my friend Zack," he said. "He has been with me every step of the way-and my brother."

Many of the cars passing in front of the demonstration slowed to a crawl, their drivers craning to see what the signs were saying, and then honking support before driving away. Other vehicles simply honked in support as they drove past.

Friday Film Fest

Island youth showcase short movies

they've made under Weengushk's eye

by Jim Moodie

M'CHIGEENG-"Quiet on the set. Sound. Speed. Action!"

It's a string of commands you'd hear on just about any movie set in LA, but not the kind of thing that commonly echoes between the wooded bluffs of M'Chigeeng-even if the community does sport a big Hollywood-esque sign on its highest promontory.

Weirder still, the authority who happens to be barking out these instructions is an eight-year-old girl who barely tops the camera tripod, let alone the boom pole.

Eden Beaudin, our pint-sized auteur, doesn't seem to find it weird. Comfortably sporting a big pair of headphones, and pretty much oblivious to the presence of a reporter, the plucky youngster is confidently doling out directives to her actors and crew.

These would be Britney Manitowabi and Elliot Simon, in the former category, and Faith Beaudin and Danielle Manitowabi, handling camera and sound duties, respectively. The unit-and they do seem to be a unit by this point-is shooting a scene in the M'Chigeeng fitness centre that, without giving away the plot of the unfinished flick, could be coyly said to involve a pop diva and a pseudo rapper.

Ian Skorodin, an LA-based filmmaker, sits in an adjacent room, listening to the sounds of the shoot but resisting the urge to put in his two-cents' worth. "They're in charge," he shrugs.

Not that he would withhold advice if asked. Ms. Skorodin is here to verse kids in the language and skills of moviemaking-something he's done all week, and will do until the program wraps up this Friday. Geared to youth between the ages of nine and 14, the unusual two-week camp is an offering of the fledgling Weengushk Film Institute in M'Chigeeng.

"It's our first summer film camp for youth, which is something we plan to do every year," says Shirley Cheechoo, the institute's founder and an accomplished filmmaker in her own right. "I know Ian's work and he's done a lot of work with kids, so we brought him here to do it."

Mr. Skorodin, who first met Ms. Cheechoo at the Sundance Film Festival in 1998, is a member of the Choctaw First Nation of Oklahoma and director of the dramatic film Tushka, which garnered an award for best feature at the Arizona International Film Festival. He's taught workshops at the University of California in San Diego and the American Indian Film Institute, as well as paid visits to Moose Factory on three occasions to work with youth in that community.

"I travel quite a bit," he says. "It's a nice break to leave LA and especially nice to be in Canada, where there isn't as much smog and the attitude isn't so imperialistic."

An intense, sharp-witted 30-something with a ponytail and infectious grin, Mr. Skorodin has established a good rapport with his students, who have picked up quickly on the basics of filmmaking and are now thriving on the leeway he has given them to make their own choices and stage their own scenes.

"The kids just love him," says Dawn Debassige, office administrator with Weengushk. "He treats them like adults, and is making this so that it's all theirs."

Instruction began last Monday, with eight youth enrolled in the camp, which the Weengushk brain trust has dubbed "Summer Scenes." Most of the students are from M'Chigeeng, although a few have made the trek from Wikwemikong to take part.

Each pupil gets a practical introduction to the full gamut of filmmaking. "They go from script to production," notes Ms. Cheechoo. "They're learning how to work with the equipment, do photography, editing, all of that."

Their projects won't, needless to say, amount to full-length feature films. Even Mr. Skorodin-as driven, and accustomed to low-budget shooting, as he is-would be hard-pressed to whip together a 90-minute drama in two weeks.

But the kids are producing several original shorts that derive from their own ideas and scripts, and once complete, they will be screened for an audience at the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation (OCF).

"We're going to show the films on August 8 (this Friday) at 5:30 pm at the OCF," says Taylor Sayers, marketing and resource development officer with Weengushk. "Everyone is invited to come out and view the finished work."

The films will eventually have an even bigger audience, as Mr. Skorodin plans to screen them at the Native Film Festival in LA-an event he founded-in November, as part of the fest's youth program.

The students are working on three mini-films at the moment, each quite distinct. One, tentatively titled "The Crash" or "Out of Control," follows a group of youngsters who go on a joy ride in a parent's car and end up (spoiler alert) smacking into something. Mr. Skorodin says the final result-it's being edited right now-will be more funny than tragic in tone.

Kind of like a Quentin Tarantino film? we ask. "More like Cheech and Chong," laughs Mr. Skorodin.

Another work-in-progress is a music video. The song itself is not original-the actors lip-synch while dancing-but the concept is one the kids came up with, and they're learning a variety of filming techniques that go with this form, including the use of a "green screen," a way of adding backgrounds to live-action shots. In this case, the group improvised by utilizing a wall in the OCF that conveniently happened to be painted an emerald hue, while the lone, clashing light fixture could be covered by a green garbage bag.

Finally, there's a plan to adapt a book by the aforementioned Ms. Beaudin to the screen. The young scribe published a tale earlier this year that draws on Greek mythology, in particular the winged horse Pegasus. Mr. Skorodin says it will be a challenge to realize this and other mythical characters on film, particularly since Weengushk has yet to finance a full-fledged CGI unit, but it could be pulled off through some basic animation or resourceful costuming.

Ms. Sayers is quite pleased with the way the inaugural film camp has turned out so far. "The kids are getting a hands-on experience, and it's a different sort of summer camp than most kids look at doing," she notes.

Nor is the instruction over. After principal photography wraps up, "they'll be learning things like how to add in sound and take out glare," she points out.

While Weengushk has previously held a screenwriting workshop, this represents the institute's first foray into actual moviemaking instruction, and Ms. Sayers says that more is sure to come. "In the future, we'll probably hold the same course for a little older group, and maybe have a part two to it, so that students who have taken the first course can get to the next level."

At the moment, the initial crop of film campers has plenty to keep them busy and engaged, whether it's how to pull off a dolly shot or master the "razor blade" tool in Final Cut Pro. Or more generally, how to collaborate as a creative group.

Judging by the way the scene comes together in the M'Chigeeng fitness centre-everyone fulfilling their assigned role, no major re-takes necessary-they seem to have got that down pretty good.

"Cut," chirps a satisfied Director Beaudin.

EDITORIAL

Family-centric festivals are key to long-term success

A few weeks ago in this space, this newspaper suggested that a strong marketing campaign, directed initially at the regional market (Sudbury, Espanola, Elliot Lake), could easily capitalize on the wide array of unique summer festivals that have come to characterize Manitoulin Island.

We think this is imminently doable and, once again, recommend the challenge to the Manitoulin Tourism Association and the Great Spirit Circle Trail.

But this commentary is meant to be more of an observation on the long-term viability of these important festivals because it's clear that the success of a one-two-or three-day long event means that they are oriented to families, and this means, put simply, that there needs to be lots of things for young people to do.

What prompted this particular commentary was the larger-than-usual inventory of kids' activities at this past edition of Haweater Weekend in Little Current.

It was clear that this was an unusually busy Haweater Weekend and it was also clearly not a coincidence that a new event on Saturday, a co-ed soccer round-robin tournament for young people involved 110 kids. Everyone was guaranteed to play in at least four half-hour games. Organizers accepted both teams and individuals, and made up teams from individual entries. It was a big success and congratulations to Lori Green-Case and her helpers for their hard work.

On the other side of Low Island Park, about 70 young people were involved in paddling 35 cardboard boats in races to the delight of a huge crowd. And most of these boats would have been family projects, where moms and dads had worked with their youngsters on these fun crafts.

Congratulations to Alicia McCutcheon, Amanda Roy and Lesley Mayhew and their  helpers who organize this annual and growing event for young people.

The 5-km race appeals to people of all ages and again this year young people made up a significant percentage of the racers. Well done Kristin Farquhar, Shannon Burnett, and Greg Sutherland. Friday night's teen dance and Sunday night's pre-and-post fireworks street dance are also about young people, as is the great water slide that the Northeast Town firefighters organize each year on the hillside above Low Island Park. As is, in fact, the mammoth Sunday night fireworks display that attracts people in their thousands-largely in family groups.

From the vantage point of someone who drove a float in Sunday's parade, the route was busier with onlookers, most of them family groups, than in recent years and that is a testament to the success of the whole weekend.

To  maintain the energy level required to sustain a major event like Haweater Weekend-and every such Island event-year after year, and to keep it fresh and vital is quite remarkable.

The Little Current Lions Club has demonstrated leadership by refocusing on family activities for its flagship event and the results spoke for themselves all weekend long: busy people and smiling faces.

This must be the future of all of our Island festivals.

Letters to the Editor

CAS can be held accountable for actions

Membership in non-profit guarantees rights to CAS bylaws

To the Expositor:

I am writing in response to the recent article and editorial pertaining to the Children's Aid Society (CAS) in my position as both a former foster child who lived in foster care for 16 years of my childhood who was moved 13 times, and in my position as the founder and volunteer executive director of The Foster Care Council of Canada. An online, non-profit organization, the council was established in 2001 and is made up of both current and former child-welfare service clients and their supporters who are dedicated to improving the quality and accountability of child-welfare services across the country.

It is important that members of the community know that they can hold their CAS accountable through membership. Most people think that means being on the Board of Directors. But that is not what I am talking about. You can contact the executive office of the CAS, and ask for an application for general membership.

You will pay a fee of approximately $10-$25 a year, and you are a regular member. This gives you rights to see their bylaws (more rights available to members) and you are now able to exercise your rights afforded to you under the Corporations Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C-38.

You can call a meeting of the other members and deal with issues of concern. Currently here in Ottawa, I attempted to obtain a list of the members of the Ottawa Children's Aid Society as allowed by Law (307 (1) Corporations Act) and the society had the audacity to break the law, hire a lawyer with taxpayers' money to assist them to commit the offence of failing to furnish a list of their members, preventing me from advocating for a bylaw change to the society.

They are now under a private charge and court starts on October 8, 2008. I encourage anyone who cares about their local children in foster care to join your local CAS. If you have problems with your membership application or the CAS pretends not to know what you are talking about, feel free to contact me for assistance.

Together we can bring accountability to CAS where nobody else can.

John Dunn

executive director

The Foster Care Council of Canada

Island organizations should join forces to market Manitoulin

Current efforts are getting business people nowhere

To the Expositor:

I recently sent a letter to Al Douglas, president of the Manitoulin Tourist Association (MTA), and Owen Legge, president of the Chamber of Commerce. I have been a member of both these organizations for 12 years and am concerned about their future. 

The MTA has been administrated mostly by volunteers this season. The volunteers have done a wonderful job but we, the business people, cannot expect them to continue as this is cutting into their lives. There is no reason why we can't get government support and run a tourism/chamber office in a self-sufficient business fashion. It is getting more and more difficult to get board directors. People need an incentive to get on these boards-for example, a discount towards their membership-while serving a term.

I made a drastic suggestion to the MTA and Chamber offices that they dissolve both organizations, and then, come this fall, start one new organization. We all know how important tourism is on the Manitoulin and it is important that we continue to inform up-and-coming Island travellers.

The time is now to think about next year's visitors. We can't keep paying into these marketing boards and getting nowhere. I have paid over $4,000 in the last 12 years and it isn't going to happen anymore.  If we can't get one organization to market the Manitoulin, I for one am not supporting the Chamber/MTA in the future. We are on one Island-let's work together as one group.

If you have any feedback to these comments, please feel free to contact me by phone at 377-4923 or by email at carollsheppard@hotmail.com with 'Manitoulin Chamber/Tourism working together' in the subject line.

Carol Sheppard

Rockville

Our children are dying in Afghanistan

Leave young man in Guantanamo and deport his family to Afghanistan as undesirables

To the Expositor:

Over the past several years we have been hearing of that poor Canadian being held prisoner by the US army in Guantanamo Bay Prison. That would be on the Eastern tip of Cuba. Regularly we hear sob sisters pitying that poor young boy being questioned and kept under guard in that tropical land.

Not long ago his mother and sister were interviewed on a television program about her sons and husband in relation to their part in the war in Afghanistan. I believe that I heard correctly, and my memory serves me well enough. They both damned the American intervention in that country and encouraged her homeland people to drive them out. Prior to that interview her husband had solicited funds in Canada that went to fund the Taliban forces, and was he not killed as he served the Taliban forces just about that time? Meanwhile, in defence of the Taliban forces, this young lad now held in Cuba threw a grenade killing a US service man. As a direct result, he in turn was severely wounded, but taken into custody for medical care, rather than being liquidated on the field of battle.

On this date, we have our sons on the battlefield facing just such situations. We have sacrificed far too many of Canada's young men in such situations, and even today we each may know of someone's son in mortal agony as a result of these misguided terrorists who care not a little bit about your tears. Or the future plans of hopeful family members. The reality is, we are at war with the Taliban in that country.

I believe that under the Geneva Convention rules of war were established. Or was that only for those who professed Christianity? In my memory those who were captured, those who surrendered, those who were killed in action, were to be given honourable treatment. Of course this not always happened, but those taken were to be called prisoners of war! They were to be held in captivity in a humane state until all hostilities ceased. A civil or military trial for their allegiance was not to be considered. They were not released until hostilities ceased and agreements to desist were accepted. I do not believe in this modern age the US military or government has any compassion to boast of. However, under present-day realities the might they are able to use is the only acceptable solution to eventually quell the madness that sees only blood as a solution to their religious eccentricities. Until that time, leave this highly publicized young prisoner where he is, and deport his mother and family to their homeland as undesirables, without the aid of family allowances or any other assistance.

R.R. White,

London, Ontario