Sheguiandah Anglican church reborn as historical landmark

by Michael Erskine

SHEGUIANDAH---When Claire Waindubence stepped through the door into the historic interior of St. Andrew's Church six years ago, she was horrified by the destruction that met her eyes.

"Some young children had gone in, vandals, and they broke every piece of glass in the building," she recalled. "It was a terrible mess, and they were just young children so there was nothing anyone could do."

Well, perhaps not as far as restitution or retribution was concerned, but Ms. Waindubence put her considerable will to the task of undoing the destruction that had been done.

Over the course of the past six years, Ms. Waindubence and a small group of hardy volunteers has been restoring the church. New siding, flooring and a refurbished turn-of-the-century piano will be illuminated by light shining through newly crafted stained glass windows.

A doctor from Iowa has been crafting new crosses for the graveyard and will be bringing them up shortly.

"I wonder what they will think about that at the border," laughed Ms. Waindubence.

The church is being integrated into Sheguiandah First Nation's ambitious historical Living Heritage Park.

"The church is such an important part of our history," said Ms. Waindubence. "As we embraced Christianity, we incorporated our own culture and symbols into the faith, making our own."

The Manitoulin Expositor recorded the final completion of the 'Episcopal church' on July 3, 1886, and Bishop Sullivan's arrival with a large group of parishioners to open the church.

Much of the church remains essentially as it was then, and an 1867 stove still stands within as a relic of the past.

Ms. Waindubence and her friends have been financing the renovation project out of their own resources, as a labour of love, and had hoped to keep it totally under wraps until an unveiling on July 24, but financial reality has required the veil be lifted a little.

"We need some help getting the Hydro in, and lighting," she said, "it is just a little bit more than we can do alone."

Donations to Ms. Waindubence's project can be sent to the Sheguiandah First Nation, Box 505, Sheguiandah, ON, P0P 1W0.

Victim of vandalism looking for positive solutions

by Neil Zacharjewicz

M'CHIGEENG - Norma Corbiere has often heard the expression 'it takes a village to raise a child,' and now she hopes to turn those words into reality.

Since 1986, Ms. Corbiere, a widow, a mother and a grandmother, has owned a cottage on the shores of West Bay, near Manitoulin Secondary School, but while the intention was to purchase the property for her family to enjoy, she has instead become the victim of repeated incidences of vandalism.

"It has been really bad in the last six years," she said. She noted that at one point, the camp was locked tight with padlocks and chains, but even those were busted and broken by vandals. She said she has reported the incidents in the past to the police, and they have a very large file on the matter, and yet the vandalism continues to occur. She noted that the justice system has not deterred others from vandalizing her property. She said once one group of vandals is put through the justice system, another group comes along and commits the same acts.

"This is very painful for me to address," Ms. Corbiere said. "I feel so helpless."

But Ms. Corbiere does not want to dwell on the details of what has happened to her cottage. Instead, she wants to find solutions to the problem,

"Prevention is the key," she suggested.

In keeping with her push for positive outcomes, Ms. Corbiere is hoping to organize a committee to look at vandalism in all of Manitoulin's communities alongside stakeholder groups such as the police. As well, she said plans are underway to make a video, illustrating the impact of vandalism, that can be shown to youth groups and, hopefully, in the Island schools.

Ms. Corbiere would also encourage parents to talk to their own children about vandalism. She pointed out that vandalism costs money, and not just to the victims. There is a cost to the justice system and at a political level as well. She added she also feels it is an issue that should be discussed in the schools, both at the primary and secondary school level. Education and peer pressure from other students can influence those committing crimes, she said.

"The point is, we all need to take more time to address the problem," Ms. Corbiere stated. "We do not want to see a situation at school where students can't leave the grounds because a few (students) can't be trusted in the community, nor do we want to see curfews."

There are excellent caregivers and social workers available to help, and she said the youth responsible need to know that they can access services to help them overcome their issues. She added that the community needs to take the initiative and responsibility to take action when they see children committing crimes on other people's property.

"I am trying really hard to understand and not feel angry," Ms. Corbiere said. "No child can be a real demon. Everybody has a heart, I think."

Island bus service starts June 30

by Michael Erskine

MANITOULIN---Getting around the Island without a car is about to get a lot easier, as entrepreneur David Baughn announced the launch of ManitouLines, a transit system serving Espanola, Birch Island, Little Current, Manitowaning and South Baymouth.

Further plans are also in the works to provide a circular year-round service to Gore Bay, Sheguiandah, M'Chigeeng, Little Current and Wikwemikong.

"I am not looking to get rich," admitted Mr. Baughn, as he recognized the challenges of providing a bus service in a market as limited as Manitoulin Island. "If I can just make a decent living I will be more than happy."

Mr. Baughn is a southern Ontario roofing contractor who is looking to get out of the high-stress rat race of the construction industry.

"I have had a number of heart attacks," he said. "I need to get some of the stress out of my life."

Mr. Baughn fell in love with Manitoulin and Northern Ontario in general, when, in 1968, as a 19 year-old emigre from England, he was brought up North for his first summer vacation in this country.

After years of working in the construction trade in the south, returning each summer for a short respite, he has decided to make a permanent move to the area.

The bus service will officially begin on June 30, with a 24-passenger bus leaving Espanola at 6 am, arriving in South Baymouth at 8:30 am. The bus will then turn around and head back to Espanola at 9:15 am, arriving at 11:45 and departing from there again at 12:15 pm, landing once again at the South Baymouth terminus at 2:45 pm. The evening run will depart South Baymouth at 5:35 pm, reaching Espanola by 7:35 pm. The final run will depart Espanola at 7:45 pm, arrive in South Baymouth at 9:45 pm, depart again at 10:15 pm and finishing off the day at Espanola at 12:45 in the morning.

The Fall Schedule (September 7 to October 17) for Fridays and holidays, will see the first run starting at 8 am in Espanola and subsequent runs from there leaving at 1:30 pm and 5:50 pm and from South Baymouth at 11:05 am, 3:40 pm and 8:30 pm, with the final run completing at 11 pm in Espanola.

Fall Saturday to Thursday departures from Espanola are 8 am and 1:12 pm and from South Baymouth at 11:05 am and 4 pm, with the final bus arriving in Espanola at 6:30 pm.

Mr. Baughn will be running the buses prior to the official June 30 start day, to work out the bugs.

"I plan to start running a bus along the routes few days before the official start with a reduced fare," he said. "I want to work the last of the minor bugs out of the routes before we officially start the service."

Air conditioning on the buses will ensure the long summer journey from Espanola to South Baymouth and back will be comfortable, and with 24 passenger capacity, crowding is unlikely to be an issue.

In the near future, Mr. Baughn said he also plans to launch a 15-passenger circle run to service the Island's communities; a service he plans to run year round, and which will connect to a twice daily run from Little Current to Espanola.

The final details on bus stops and collection points for the runs has not yet been finalized, but there will be stops near the ferry terminal in South Baymouth, near White's Shell in Manitowaning, Hilltop Shell in Little Current and the Greyhound station in Espanola. The location of the stops in Birch Island and other locations are to be announced.

There will be some variance in departure times, but passengers are expected to be at the stop 10 minutes before the published departure time.

A trip from Espanola to South Baymouth will cost $30, $55 return ($25 and $45 for students or seniors), $15 between Little Current and Manitowaning, $20 from Little Current to South Baymouth, $10 between Manitowaning and South Baymouth and $5 from Espanola to Birch Island or Little Current to Birch Island. Children under three will travel free.

The whole venture is being financed privately, with Mr. Baughn the principal investor.

"This is entirely out of my own pocket," he said. "Not one cent of government money is going into this. It took a whole lot of effort, months of legwork and a lot of personal effort, but I am seeing it through to the end."

Each passenger will be allowed one regular suitcase and one carry-on bag, with additional charges applying extra baggage, oversize luggage such as bikes, surfboards and large suitcases.

As part of the financial mix that Mr. Baughn hopes will make this venture work, he has secured a contract to extend the Greyhound BPX courier service to the Island. Pick up and drop off locations are being currently negotiated.

Wikwemikong Tribal Police cleared in pursuit investigation

by Michael Erskine

WIKWEMIKONG---An independent Ontario Provincial Police investigation into a fatality during a police pursuit which occurred on the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve on June 5, 2004, has determined that the Wikwemikong Tribal Police acted properly during the events leading to the crash.

The OPP investigation has also led to criminal charges for the driver and other occupants of the vehicle in a chain of events which began in Sudbury and culminated in the tragic death of Jamie Pangowish, 15, of Sudbury.

Charged are: Phillip Seabrook, 18, Flight from Police Causing Death, Flight from Police Causing Bodily Harm; Ian Copegog, 19, Possession of Stolen Property, Breach of Probation; Shawn Sinclair, 25, Possession of Stolen Property, Breach of Probation.

Each of the suspects were arrested, charged and released on conditions. Mr. Seabrook will make his first appearance in court at Wikwemikong on July 20, 2004; Mr. Copegog will appear June 29 and the date of appearance for Mr. Sinclair was not yet available by press time.

Two young female offenders were also charged with Possession of Stolen Property and Breach of Probation in the incident. They were also arrested and released on conditions and will make their first appearance in Wikwemikong on July 22, 2004.

The investigation also determined that the Wikwemikong Tribal Police officers involved in the incident acted properly and in keeping with provincial guidelines for suspect apprehension pursuits.

In the case of a fatality during a police pursuit by any officer of the Ontario Provincial Police, a Special Investigations Unit would be assigned to investigate the incident, but the Wikwemikong Tribal Police do not fall within the mandate of the SIU.

"I had contacted the SIU immediately," said Wikwemikong Tribal Police Chief Gary Reid. "I felt it would be best to have an independent body investigate the incident."

Although the SIU could not respond to the request, arrangements were made to have the North East Region Criminal Investigation Unit conduct the investigation. Detective Sergeant David Lalonde was the lead investigator from the North East Region.

Provincial guidelines on pursuit are a complex matter, taking severity of the crime and the interests of public safety into account.

"The manual is actually several inches thick," noted OPP Community Liaison Officer Al Boyd. "You can't give the definitive answer that fits all situations easily. Generally, pursuits are only conducted if they are absolutely necessary."

In the case of the incident in Wikwemikong it would be hard to strictly classify the incident as a pursuit as the officers were barely in their vehicle when the crash occurred.

A vehicle was stolen in Sudbury on June 5, and later abandoned in Espanola, while another vehicle was reported stolen from Espanola.

The vehicle had been pulled over on Kaboni Road around 5 am in the morning by officers of the Wikwemikong Tribal Police, as the officers were approaching the Jeep Cherokee to determine if it was the stolen vehicle they were looking for, the driver reportedly sped off.

The vehicle apparently crashed before the officers even had time to return to their vehicle and take up pursuit. Most of the occupants of the car were reported hospitalized at that time, with Mr. Pangowish killed in the crash.

Under provincial guidelines, in the case of a pursuit, officers would normally back off, following at a safe distance.

"If they take off at 160 kilometers an hour, the prudent course is to turn off the lights and sirens and follow at 80 kilometers an hour," said Constable Boyd. "You especially have to take the conditions into account. We are held accountable."

Police actions might be mitigated in the case of a murder suspect fleeing the scene, or a child abduction.

"There are really too many variables to take them all into account with a general rule," said Constable Boyd. "Officers have to also use their discretion and judgment, if we are found to have made the wrong decision, we are held to account for it."

"It was a tragic, sad situation," said Chief Reid of the accident, adding that he was gratified that his officers had been determined to have acted properly in the circumstances by an independent agency.