The goalie is missing

A coach's fond memories of Jason Maurice

by Larry LeBlanc

MINDEMOYA-Jason Maurice, a tall, gentle giant, went missing on a stormy early-December night in a massive blackout. Having spent a tour in the military, one would have expected his army survival skills would have enabled him to make the 10-kilometre trek to his home in Mindemoya. As we all know, that didn't occur, as he seemingly vanished into thin air. All who know Jason continue to miss his presence in our lives.

I first met Jason more than 15 years ago when he indicated to me that he wanted to learn the art of goaltending. I had been training serious goaltenders for many years and therefore jumped at the opportunity to assist such a strongly-motivated kid, 11-12 years in age. I laid out the terms for my assistance: a strong desire to improve each time out, concentration, repetition, an astronomical amount of commitment and above all, work. Young Maurice accepted this immediately. He jumped at the opportunity and became a constant student in my yard and house.

Jason had a deep-seated desire to improve and over the next eight or so years he proved it six days out of every seven. He was indefatigable in his pursuit of his dream. He didn't miss a single session throughout seven successive summers. And he could measure himself against the other goalie regulars: Lucas Kowal, Joel Diebolt, Evan Bayer and, for one summer, Matt Elgie, all top-notch goaltenders who went on to play high-level competitive hockey. Each of these boys, even in 80 degree-plus temperatures, weathered the heat, sweat and increasingly powerful shots of the likes of Jacob Stadnyk, Chris King, Frank Rizzuto, Bert Panamick, Logan Bayer, Steven Kowal and David Wiggins, among others. The competition was fierce. Everyone was determined to get better and each did in their own way with some moving on to AAA and Junior AA. But no-one was more dedicated than Jason. He began to eat the pucks up on a regular basis.

Tough, resilient, focussed and even-tempered, young Maurice improved dramatically as an ultra-dependent stopper. When the Mustangs of Manitoulin Secondary reappeared on the local high school scene, they were blessed with a trio of good goaltenders: Jason, Steve Ferguson and Joel Diebolt. They could all hold their own but young Maurice was the "go-to guy." With only two practices and zero games under their belts the Mustangs entered their first tournament. Seemingly asking for punishment, the Mustangs' first opponent was the perennial championship club, the St. Charles College Cardinals of Sudbury. The Cardinals had already played a half dozen games but they did not know Jason Maurice. The Mustangs did not win on the scoreboard but they did win respect, with young Maurice facing 50+ shots and with just a few minutes remaining the Cardinals had to notch a late third-period goal to win 3 to 2. After the game, Cardinals Coach Fox inquired as to who the Mustang goaltender was and where had he come from? No-one in Sudbury had to ask following that and other stalwart performances throughout the winter. Following his league introduction Jason had to master a tactic foreign to him: "running the goaltender." He adjusted to that extremely well and never once lost his cool.

Jason went on to have many more excellent games for the MSS Mustangs and would eventually end up playing goal for the Little Britain Junior Merchants while he attended Sir Sanford Fleming College in Peterborough. He would earn his Police Foundations diploma from Fleming, thence signing up with the army for a two year stint. There he would play military hockey.

It was during this time that he would meet his beautiful girlfriend, Kristin. It seemed that they were meant for each other. Both were quiet and easygoing and seemed to want the same things in life. One of the most important was having a family. A little more than two years ago a son was born to the happy couple. The robust baby boy was honoured with the name Ryan and immediately became the apple of Jason's eye. The young father would look at this son with disbelieving eyes: full of pride and love. Jason could visualize no impossibilities when it came to Ryan. He and Kristin could see the adventure of possibilities. And of course one of those was hockey.

Speaking to Jason a few weeks prior to him vanishing he indicated that it would soon be time to get the young lad on skates. In telling Jason of the little rink I was building in the yard for the grandchildren, a huge smile crossed his face when he said that he would soon be over with his boy.

I spoke to Jason only one more time before I heard the tragic news of his disappearance. His family members and all who know him were shocked and devastated when the prolonged search produced no answers. The disbelief slowly and stunningly turned to a type of acceptance: that the kindness, joy, love, dedication and perseverance that is Jason would live on in his boy Ryan.

January thaw means search will resume

by Alicia McCutcheon

M'CHIGEENG-Although the search for Jason Maurice-the young Mindemoya man missing since December 2-may have been called off by the police, the United Chiefs and Council of Manitoulin (UCCM) Anishinabek police are still actively investigating Mr. Maurice's disappearance and are likely to resume searching as the snow disappears this week.

UCCM police chief Albert Beaudin acknowledged that there are rumours of foul play regarding that December night when Mr. Maurice was last seen, but said the police have no reason to believe these rumours are true.

"We have had phone calls of people claiming to know where the body is and have even had psychics calling from all over," Mr. Beaudin said. "We follow up on everything."

He said he felt confident that the roadsides from the Lakeview area of M'Chigeeng along Highway 542 to Mindemoya were searched thoroughly, thanks to the volunteer efforts of the massive search party headed by the North Shore Search and Rescue team. Mr. Maurice is believed to have left a friend's house in M'Chigeeng and set out on foot for his Mindemoya home in the early morning hours of December 2.

Mr. Beaudin noted that the shorelines of Lake Mindemoya, Otter Lake and the bay in M'Chigeeng were all searched and that, at the time of the disappearance, Otter Lake was the only body of water that was at least partially frozen. He said the investigation has not yielded any information that would justify the use of underwater divers at this point.

"His mother and her partner are still out searching," said Mr. Beaudin. "I see them driving the roads every time there is a thaw."

He said that although the search was officially called off, his officers still go out and search for Mr. Maurice every time they have some time to spare. The police chief said another police search will be organized if a thaw occurs, as was anticipated this week.

"People are still definitely looking," Mr. Beaudin said.

MPP_Mike Brown taking up private member's bill aimed

at giving cormorants nuisance bird status

by Alicia McCutcheon

MANITOULIN-The infamous cormorant-that long, sleek, fish-hungry bird-will again be discussed in parliament, as Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Mike Brown plans to revive a bill calling for the creature's reclassification.

"I suspect I will be reintroducing that bill in the spring session," said Mr. Brown of Bill 156 from his home in Kagawong.

If Bill 156-first introduced by MPP Ernie Parsons, who has since retired from politics-is enacted, it would classify the cormorant as a nuisance bird, similar to a crow or grackle as defined by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, and allow anyone with a legitimate beef with the bird to shoot them.

"This would be the opportunity to provide some balance to the ecology of the North Channel and the inland lakes," Mr. Brown said, noting the devastation of the fishery since the bird has decided to make a home on Manitoulin. "This makes good sense in treating this bird the way we treats crows. This is not an endangered species by any means-it's just a logical step to take."

Jim Sloss, chair of the United Fish and Game Clubs of Manitoulin, said he appreciates what Mr. Brown is set to do come spring session, but is not convinced Bill 156 will actually lead anywhere. "A lot of people have given up hope," he said.

Mr. Sloss said he feels that issues that effect Northern Ontario seem to "hit the back burner" when introduced to parliament.

"I was hoping for more than a private member's bill," he said. "That indicates to me that there's no great support."

"We certainly have a wonderful resource-the abundance and quality of water-and we had, at one time, a world-class fishery on Manitoulin. It could certainly happen again," Mr. Sloss said. "We'll just have to wait and see how things unfold and hope for the best."

OFAH_demands Grits make good

election pledge on wild turkeys

by Alicia McCutcheon

MANITOULIN-With the holiday season now over, the thought of turkeys is probably far from the minds of many-that is, of course, with the exception of the Manitoulin Longbeards and the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH).

In the Winter 2008 edition of the OFAH publication 'Ontario Out of Doors,' a small blurb regarding the federation's first meeting with the new Minister of Environment, Donna Cansfield, reminded readers of the fall election promise of action regarding the release of wild turkeys on Manitoulin made by premier Dalton McGuinty.

"The introductory meeting will pave the way for future discussions around areas of concern to OFAH members," the article stated.

Since then, the OFAH has met with Minister Cansfield for a second time.

"In the last meeting, she did give a little push back," said Lezlie Goodwin, communications officer with the OFAH. "We have heard she has received negative feedback from people this (Manitoulin) way."

Ms. Goodwin noted that during the pre-election questionnaire received by all three party leaders, the response to releasing wild turkeys on Manitoulin was all the same-favourable.

"We have solid support on this issue and we will continue to have ongoing discussions with the ministry," she said. "We're certainly not going to give up on this right now."

An article slated to appear in the February issue of 'Ontario Our of Doors,' entitled "Will she or won't she? Minister Cansfield balking on election promise to bring turkey to Manitoulin," questions the minister's failure to move.

"It is still too early to determine the minister's direction in her new portfolio. The OFAH is concerned, however, that she is already backing away from a Liberal election promise, which was agreed to by all three political parties-the move to establish wild turkeys on Manitoulin Island," the article stated. "The proposal has the backing of municipal councils, residents, businesses and First Nations, will cost taxpayers nothing, be a boon to the regional economy and is supported by the MNR's own studies. It is unclear, then, why the minister is not yet prepared to deliver on this election promise."

"Will she or won't she permit wild turkeys for Manitoulin Island? The federation will be working hard to see that this is one promise that is kept, and that the other top OFAH issues are never far from the minister's desk," the article concludes.

Scott Willis, president of the Manitoulin Longbeards, a group advocating the release of wild turkeys on Manitoulin and chapter of the National Wild Turkey Association, said he is not surprised by the minister's latest response as it has gone the same way for the last eight years, no matter who's in the hot seat.

He is hoping for some good news in the way of an Environmental Bill of Rights posting expected next weekend.

"The bill of rights will dictate how things will go for the next three or four years," he explained. "It's like an action plan or proposal."

MNR communications officer Rick Winston maintained that Minister Cansfield is not backtracking on promises made by the premier, saying this interpretation  "wasn't fair."

"Before any new releases can be done they must have an environmental impact study and Endangered Species Act risk management plan," he said. "Wild turkeys are usually released in the winter and I can say that it won't be this winter."

The process of either study has yet to start.

EDITORIAL

Report confirms local fishery concerns

Good work for the volunteers of the United Fish and Game Clubs of Manitoulin (UFGCM) for highlighting the relationship between the dwindling sports fish population and the increasing cormorant population in the Manitoulin Island region.

A Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) report recently sourced by this newspaper through a Freedom of Information Act request agrees that there are far fewer sports fish, together with the smaller fish species game fish live on, in Manitoulin's lakes and in the North Channel.

The MNR report attributes this decline in fish population to, more or less equally, the cormorant population and the angling community.

On the face of it, this is likely good science.

But if we remove the cormorant factor (and these birds were not in evidence in any numbers prior to 15 years ago) and just consider the anglers, then the position taken by the local angling community (and represented by the UFGCM) over the past dozen years comes sharply into focus.

For if the cormorants weren't an issue, then (other things being equal) the balance between the sports fishery and the natural reproduction of the various game species would have continued as usual, with no crisis in sight.

Now, it appears that in order to keep enough fish in the lakes to satisfy both cormorants' and anglers' requirements, a combination of adding more hatchery-raised game fish to some of the lakes and cutting back on angling seasons seems to be the recommended course of action.

But the cormorants that the UFGCM have long wanted to see fewer of? No cull is suggested in the report, nor is there any recommendation for a continuance of any of the actions that have already been attempted in order to control the bird's population, such as egg oiling.

Thankfully, Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Mike Brown will re-table the private member's bill first brought forward by a colleague in the last provincial parliament.

The bill, if passed, would re-categorize cormorants to the status of the crow and so would allow citizens to shoot them legally if they considered them a nuisance to the ordinary enjoyment of their home, farm, cottage or fishing spot.

The MNR study should certainly give Mr. Brown's proposed bill credibility as it proceeds through the legislature, hopefully into law. 

Letters to the Editor

Kudos to St. Denis for pushing teaching of Native heritage

The culture merits great study and recognition

To the Expositor:

It is a relief to read that MP Brent St. Denis is acknowledging Native people in his riding as a distinct and important cultural component that has been far too long ignored. Turning genocide around is what his bill to promote and teach Native history is all about. The cold hearts of old colonialists still exist and are still taking their toll on a people and culture that has more to offer than what meets the eye. It merits great study and recognition and in many countries first peoples are now being considered as national treasures. Canada has been in the dark ages, based on the ideas of 'terra nullius'-a doctrine by which European nations justified the seizure of 'empty land'-by for far too long, and still in a 19th century headspace, cannot see the human aspect of their newfound land.

Mr. St. Denis has a big and beautiful project that will bless him.

Kathleen Imbert

Wikwemikong Unceded First Nation band member

Doping in professional sports must not be overlooked

Surely no-one can say 'let's get over it'

To The Expositor:

When I read C.H. Abbott's letter ("Fans enjoy baseball regardless of 'legal' doping") in your January 2 edition, I gave my head a shake, but not because of the author's observations about the state of baseball, the 'legal' medication that is "readily available to all," or "the ridiculously high amounts of money they are paid."

Unfortunately, I was shaking my head because I, like others out there, was unsure whether the writer's conclusion to "get on with it" and "play ball" was meant to be tongue in cheek (as I hope would be the case) or a serious statement. Surely no-one can say "let's get over it"-the doping, high salaries, lack of dedication and ignorance-and just enjoy the sport?

I could have responded with a litany of facts and included my own observations but I will just say that I trust there are others who enjoy the game of baseball, football and other sports, and feel they must be cleaned up for our kids' sake-and not our own misguided enjoyment. 

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to respond.

Peter (Benji) Nahwegahbo

Aundeck Omni Kaning

North Channel Drive deserves equal snow-clearing treatment

Sand and salt is the least we could ask for

To the Expositor:

Our road is a disaster and this isn't the first time. North Channel Drive is a busy road, travelled by foot and vehicle. After a snowfall, the snow becomes packed from the constant traffic and then it becomes an icy, treacherous mode of travel. The hills, curves and stop sign get attention. I don't see the streets in town getting this treatment. My address is Little Current and we pay $3000 in taxes, yet receive no garbage pickup, no street lights, no town water or sewage, so the least I could ask for is sand and salt to keep my street safe for my neighbours and I to drive and walk safely. Driving or walking on this road is not enjoyable as you have to be on guard constantly for the fear of sliding or falling. I love the outdoors and I should have the same opportunity for walking outdoors as the in-town residents do on their plowed and sanded sidewalks or streets. Surely last year offsets this year as we had a slow winter for snow in 2006/2007.

Diane Chambers

Little Current

I'm your neighbour

Bill Graham

Valu-Mart

Gore Bay

Not only has Bill Graham spent most of his life in Gore Bay but he's spent most of his working life at the local Valu-Mart.

"I was born and raised here in Gore Bay," says Mr. Graham. "I went to elementary school here, where the Manitoulin Lodge is now located, and attended the new high school, the Gore Bay High School, where Charles C. McLean Public School is located."

While attending high school, he played hockey and baseball as well. He left school in 1967 and worked for a year with his dad at Graham's Locker Plants in Gore_Bay. The lure of a miner's life proved strong, however, and a year later, he moved to Sudbury to work for Falconbridge.

Nearly 10 years on, it was time to come home, and, after completing a carpentry course put on by Cambrian College at the Manitoulin class campus, Mr. Graham found work at the grocery store.

"I have worked at the Valu-Mart since 1978, working in all departments in the grocery store, including cashier, meat department, produce, dairy...every department in the store," he says. "I guess you could say I've been a jack of all trades."

When he's not at work, you'll find Mr. Graham umping a local softball game, or playing pool or cards.

Mr. Graham enjoys the multiple facets of his job, and gets along with both customers and fellow employees alike.

With his vast experience, he fields a lot of questions from customers. "I've been around here so long, I know where everything is," he chuckles.

Shopping at local businesses like Valu-Mart provides lasting employment for people like Bill Graham.