Art retrospective a major triumph for Wikwemikong's Daphne Odjig

by Margo Little

SUDBURY-Some call her the First Lady of the Woodland School, others refer to her as the Queen of Canadian Aboriginal Art. Various regal titles have been bestowed upon Daphne Odjig over the years in an effort to convey the respect and reverence felt by family, friends and students across the country.

Ms. Odjig was able to bask in the warmth of universal affection and admiration during a homecoming reception in Sudbury on October 11. She had travelled from her present home in British Columbia to view an exhibition of her paintings at the Art Gallery of Sudbury as well as a symposium on the Woodland School of art at Laurentian University.

Daphne Odjig, born in Wikwemikong in 1919, inherited her artistic temperament from her father, Dominic, and her grandfather, Jonas. A childhood illness in Grade 8 gave her long periods of solitude to sketch and listen to family stories. Although she never received formal art instruction, her natural curiosity led her to study European art traditions and to take risks with her own unique creativity. She went on to become an internationally celebrated artist and mentor for many young Aboriginal artists.

Several of Manitoulin Island's current practising artists were tutored by Ms. Odjig during summer art camps held in the early 1970s.

Last Thursday Ms. Odjig enjoyed a triumphant homecoming as adoring fans crowded around to hug her and reminisce. A long line of autograph seekers snaked around the Art Gallery of Sudbury. She graciously signed copies of the catalogue accompanying the exhibition and posed for pictures with relatives and admirers who had arrived from the four directions.

The welcoming ceremonies included an honour song performed by Debbie Robertson, a blessing and teaching by Wikwemikong Elder Liza Mosher and welcoming remarks by Angela Recollet, director student affairs at Laurentian University.

Brent St. Denis, MP for Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing, joined the throng of well-wishers in the reception tent on the grounds of the gallery. "You are certainly an Elder in the arts in Canada," he told the guest of honour. "Often when we speak about art, space and time are the usual dimensions we talk about, but Daphne Odjig takes us into another dimension with her art."

He paid tribute to her as one of Canada's icons and thanked her for "carrying on the fire of creativity." In closing, he suggested that this travelling retrospective will give mainstream Canada an opportunity to become more aware of Native art and spirituality.

The Ontario Arts Council was represented at the gathering by Mary Lou Hynes. She reiterated the story of how two islands off the east shore of Wikwemikong were recently renamed to honour Daphne Odjig and Rosemary Odjig.

In the past the island and reef were known as Squaw Island and Squaw Island Bank. Tom Peltier of Wikwemikong spearheaded the campaign to have the name change approved by the Ontario Geographic Names Board. The two women have now been formally recognized for their contributions to the cultural and artistic renaissance that began in the 1960s in Wikwemikong.

Later, during a quiet moment, Daphne Odjig paused to reflect on her journey. "It feels wonderful to be home," she said. "I have met lots of people, some I haven't seen for years. And I have met lots of people I used to go to school with so there are many familiar faces on this visit."

However, she did express regret that many of her old friends have passed on to the spirit world.

As she toured the gallery, she complimented the curators on the design of the retrospective. She was pleased to see all of her works from the past four decades arranged in categories to demonstrate the years of exploration and experimentation.

"I am very honoured," she said. "They did a marvelous job of hanging the paintings in categories. It was very emotional and touching."

When asked to say a few words of advice for today's aspiring artists, she spoke without hesitation. "Get a good education," she said. "Art comes from your heart and your spirit, so if you feel artistically inclined, follow that path."

For curator Bonnie Devine the exhibit was the culmination of three years of preparation. "This has been a journey and a half," she said. "Since I met Daphne, she has been the illuminating light that I have followed in my path as an artist and as a woman. It has been the privilege of my life to work with her and to feel so welcomed by her family."

Sudbury curator Celeste Scopelites announced that a teacher's guide has been published to assist in Aboriginal art curriculum development in schools across Canada.

In addition, a catalogue published in English, French and Ojibwe is available at the gallery. It contains essays by Bonnie Devine, Robert Houle and Duke Redbird plus full-colour reproductions of the exhibit.

The drawings and paintings of Daphne Odjig are on display at the Art Gallery of Sudbury, at 251 John Street until November 11. After that the show travels to the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, and then to the McMichael Gallery in Kleinburg, Ontario before moving to Kamloops, BC.

(Next week the Expositor will carry a full report on Witness: A Symposium on the Woodland School.)

Brown's victory  echoes Ontario's Liberal sweep...

...his sixth election win

by Alicia McCutcheon

ESPANOLA-The Espanola Curling Club was abuzz with nervous chatter early Wednesday evening.

The curling club, election night headquarters for the Mike Brown camp, was filling up with supporters of the incumbent MPP, but the results starting to roll in on the two televisions in the lounge were showing a small lead for NDP candidate Peter Denley.

"Denley's doing way too well," said one supporter of Mr. Brown. "I didn't think Denley would be this close," another said.

The curling club was unusually quiet for an election HQ, as people were glued to the TV, watching Mr. Brown's numbers slowly climb higher.

"We're very confident," said one of a group of women.

Suddenly, beside the MPP's name on the screen, a green checkmark appeared. The women clapped then looked around, wondering why nobody else seemed to have noticed.

"No, no, it's just a projection," one of the tablemates clarified.

"Well, that calls for another beer," said Marian Hagan of Espanola.

"Dalton's been elected!" someone called out from across the room, speaking of Mr. McGuinty's re-election in his riding of Ottawa South.

Suddenly, a beaming Mr. Brown, his wife Lynn and daughter Mickey walked through the door. As he walked through the lounge, he is greeted with well-wishers and people offering their early congratulations. Blackberries and cell phones are continuously going off with people phoning to speak to Mike about his projected win.

"Well, I got the golden checkmark!" Mr. Brown exclaimed. "I'm safe."

Campaign worker and communications staff member Neil Zacharjewcz joined the party after an apparently trying trip from Elliot Lake. He explained how he and a workmate had been listening to the local radio station and heard the announcer call the race in Algoma-Manitoulin a "close one," then heard nothing for another 20 minutes.

"There was pretty much dead silence after that report," he laughed.

The Liberal camp was also keeping a close eye on the race between Liberal MPP of Timiskaming-Cochrane incumbent and Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay, and NDP candidate John Vanthof. Mr. Ramsay was behind in votes until the end of the night when he again claimed his seat in the legislature.

Mrs. Brown said the day had been spent at their home in Kagawong, doing much-needed chores around the house as the couple had hardly been home in the past number of weeks.

"I tried to keep Mike's mind off of things," she said. "He's tried golfing before but that just doesn't work. He's not very good at it."

Mr. Brown explained that the family has an election night tradition-to eat at the Golden Dragon Restaurant in Espanola before heading to the election headquarters-something the Browns have done for the last six elections.

As the polls began to wind up and the lead taken by the incumbent became an obvious one, the MPP addressed the crowd.

"We have a very sizeable victory and a large Liberal majority government led by Premier Dalton McGuinty," he said to much applause. "We've had more road work in this constituency than any other, health care is better, and we're going to create 100 more Family Health Teams in Ontario," Mr. Brown said, noting the Family Health Teams in Manitowaning, Little Current and Espanola.

"In a Northern economy that was suffering from a high Canadian dollar, I'm very pleased people have expressed their strong confidence in the government," he noted.

He expressed his gratitude at having what he thought must be the largest group of volunteers in the riding.

"I'm really excited about the next four years," he said. "Thanks everybody, you did a great job."

With that, a group of happy and contented Liberals celebrated their MPP with chicken wings and pizza, along with a couple of drinks, and settled into to watch the rest of the election coverage, as a strong majority government was formed.

Province mandates Manor's management to Extendicare

by Jim Moodie

LITTLE CURRENT-With staffing and security issues at the Manitoulin Centennial Manor having reached a point where it was feared that resident safety could be jeopardized, the home's board of management took the dramatic step last week of defaulting control to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC).

This unusual move allowed the ministry, in turn, to promptly appoint a new provider to run the facility on its behalf. Extendicare, which operates 54 nursing homes in the province, was selected to replace Jarlette Health Services, with the transition already well under way as of last Friday.

The Markham-based corporation will continue to operate the Manor for at least a year, while the ministry assesses the ability of the home to achieve stability in staffing levels and prove it can consistently meet standards of care.

On Thursday evening last week, families with loved ones at the Manor were invited to the facility's chapel to learn of the changes afoot and air concerns about the new model of management. Earlier in the day, staff of the home, as well as municipal representatives, had been apprised of the administrative shakeup.

Extra chairs had to be produced to accommodate the large group which arrived for the session, at which board members, ministry officials, and representatives of both Extendicare and Jarlette were on hand to provide information and field questions.

"We've had Jarlette on site for almost two years, and they've done an extremely good job," stressed board chair Leslie Fields. "But they've stretched their resources as far as they can stretch, to the point that they were putting their own homes at jeopardy."

Ms. Fields said that, having struggled all summer to address a shortage of registered nursing staff in the facility and remedy areas in which the home was deemed to fall short of ministry standards, the management board felt a decisive step was in order.

The board had earlier issued a request for proposals to find a new operator, she noted, but given the urgency of the situation, "we decided to hurry the process up a bit." Extendicare had been approached two weeks earlier to provide a stop-gap solution to the nursing crunch, and had since, she related, expressed "an interest in taking on a management agreement."

The way to achieve that, Ms. Fields said, was "to ask the Ministry of Health to impose a control order on the Manitoulin Centennial Manor."

As scary and punitive as that may sound, a control order is not necessarily a bad thing, assured Tim Burns, a director with the ministry's Performance Improvement and Compliance Branch. "The board of management has taken an important decision in your interest and that of your loved ones," he told those present.

While he admitted that it's rare for the ministry to issue a control order and assume direct responsibility for a home, it doesn't mean that the local board will be permanently displaced. "It's basically an opportunity to take a deep breath and round the wagons," he said. "And it allows us to accelerate a lot of things."

Since the ministry itself isn't in a position to conduct the day-to-day operation of a home, it chooses an 'agent' to do so in such circumstances, he explained. And with Extendicare, Mr. Burns indicated, "you will have a resource base that was not available previously." That company's task, he said, "will be to bring into the home the best practices that have been proven effective elsewhere."

Mr. Burns said that, in the five years that he's held his current position with the ministry, a control order has only been exercised "three or four times" in the province. But whereas such situations typically involve stress and acrimony, in this case "it has not been adversarial; there's a strong consensus here and a positive atmosphere for change."

The move does speak to a need for urgent action, however. "I can tell you that your family members are safe here today," said Mr. Burns. "But professional honesty would dictate that I must tell you that safety is not what it should be."

Citing "too much turnover in staff" and "problems not being corrected from when our inspectors have visited," Mr. Burns said that the ministry's assessment is that "this is an environment in which there is too much risk to residents, and it is our obligation to confront that fact."

Speaking on behalf of Extendicare, Dennis Boschetto, the company's vice-president of management services, assured those present that the current challenges confronting the Manor are not insurmountable. "We have a number of homes of a similar size that we operate, 60-bed homes like yours, so we're used to this," he said. "And because of the size of our organization, we can draw from all of Ontario (for staff), so this gives you some breathing room."

Already the new provider has boosted the complement of nurses in the Manor by bringing in one registered nurse (RN), and its goal is to achieve a round-the-clock presence of RNs soon. As of last Monday, the Manor was operating at half that capacity, being able to staff the facility for just 12 hours a day with an RN on site.

Mr. Boschetto said that the RN contingent would ideally count seven (three full-time, three part-time, and one casual worker), while registered practical nurses (RPNs) should number two full-time and two part-time. At minimum, the Manor needs another part-time RPN to round out this component of its staff.

Apart from plugging these gaps in nursing coverage, Extendicare will also have a plan for heightened security high on its agenda. Mr. Boschetto said that a bracelet system to prevent wandering of residents, as is utilized in numerous homes across the country, should be implemented. "It fits like a little watch, and you can go throughout the building, but if you go through an exit it sets off an alarm," he explained.

At present, the Manor depends on a system of locked doors with codes, and requires those who desire a trip outdoors to be accompanied by staff-a rule that is particularly enforced these days, following the tragic death of a wandering resident earlier this year-but, as one family member noted, staff aren't always available to escort residents outside, especially since the facility has become short-staffed. "So they just sit in their rooms."

Another issue raised by several in attendance pertained to the two levels of the facility and the current practice of putting both special-care residents and higher-functioning clients together at mealtimes. This has created waits for those trying to reach the cafeteria via the elevator as well as unhappiness among some of the diners, it was pointed out. "I know that some people are upset when the people with special care are brought into the dining room," said Linda Bowerman. "Residents are leaving after 45 minutes without eating."

Mr. Boschetto pointed out that "it's not rare to have cognitively impaired and cognitively well people eating together" in facilities the size of Little Current's, but "it's a matter of how you organize it." He allowed that the Manor is unique for its size in having two levels, but promised, "we're already looking at the lower level and talking to staff about how to reorganize the home."

Several of the family members present wondered how improvements to the home would be funded, given that resources have been described as tight for years, and municipalities have balked at the idea of increased contributions.

One attendee noted that a provincial commitment to 24-hours-per-day nursing coverage brought with it additional challenges, including more paperwork. "It's a dilemma, because the board has been given direction by the MMA (Manitoulin Municipal Association) not to bring in an increase (in levies), but we're supposed to bring in more RNs. How do you run the home when you can't hire additional staff?" she asked.

Both Mr. Burns of the MOHLTC and Mr. Boschetto insisted, however, that the staffing crisis is not connected to guidelines set out by the province. "The (financial) resources are here," maintained Mr. Burns. To which Mr. Boschetto added, "we're not in this situation because of any changes in rules from the ministry, because the rules have changed for everybody." He noted that Extendicare operates many private homes elsewhere in Ontario that aren't subsidized by municipalities, and not only makes do with the same Case Mix Index allotment that the Manor receives, but "also makes a profit that we return to our shareholders."

The Extendicare representative suggested that contributions from municipalities that go towards the Manor should be seen as "something extra," rather than core funding for the home's basic operation.

As the firm officially takes over management of the long-term care facility this week, on-site supervision will fall to seasoned Extendicare administrator Susan Enouy, at least for the balance of this month. Beginning November 1, a new administrator previously identified by the Manor board is expected to assume the role.

Ms. Fields expressed optimism in the future of the public institution and urged family members to take time explaining the changes to relatives currently in care. "This is a home that we are proud of and love, and although we've had a staffing crisis, compliance issues, and have voluntarily stopped admissions, these are challenges that we are going to master," she asserted.

Several beds are currently available, but Mr. Boschetto was firm in his conviction that "we will not open beds until we can say we are safe and secure." The transition from living at home to living in a long-term care facility is often a traumatic one for a new resident, he pointed out, and "the first 48 hours, especially, are critical" for such individuals to feel comfortable.

That said, Mr. Boschetto predicted that the day will come soon when the Manor can confidently open its doors again to new admissions, while also creating a climate where staff feel at home. "I think we can do it fairly quickly," he said. "I know it's important to get those beds open. And when we do, that will be a real sign of achievement for everyone here."

At least one person at the meeting shared this sense of possibility. "I think if we get really positive, we'll be successful," said Evelyn Loosemore, who further mused, "if we end up with a functioning place, will the municipality give it back to us to operate under our own autonomy?"

Mr. Burns of the MOHLTC was unequivocal in response. "Look, we're bureaucrats," he said. "We're not in the business of running homes. We'd love to have the community take over again-but it's all about how far we get in one year."

Wiky man sought for drugstore 'smash and grab'

by Jim Moodie

WIKWEMIKONG-A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a Wikwemikong man following the theft of narcotic-based drugs from the Mnis IDA Pharmacy in Wiky on the morning of October 7.

Police recovered a "stolen ATV that was used to gain entry through the plate-glass window," said Wikwemikong Tribal Police Chief Gary Reid. "It was your typical 'smash and grab,' but we have eye witnesses who identified the individual."

Wanted for charges related to the robbery is Travis Wemigwans, 23, of Wikwemikong. "He's well known to police" from previous infractions, noted Chief Reid, adding that "he frequents here, Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury."

Of particular concern to police is that the stolen medication "could cause serious harm if ingested in quantity," said Chief Reid.

Oxycodone-type painkillers such as Oxycontin and Percocet are believed to have been among the medication that was removed from the store. Sought by abusers for their euphoric effects, these opiate-derivatives-colloquially referred to as "hillbilly heroin"-can fetch a street value of $10-$15 per pill.

Police are urging anyone with information about the whereabouts of Mr. Wemigwans or the missing medication to contact Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Chief Reid stressed that callers can remain anonymous as well as receive monetary rewards for tips.

"A lot of people in the community think they'll have to testify if they provide information, but you won't be identified," he said. "And you won't have to go to court."

EDITOTRIAL

Liberals benefit from blase voters, Tory misstep

The Ontario provincial election is now history.

It was unusual in its seeming inability to catch the imagination of voters. That seemed to translate into a vote of confidence for Dalton M'Guinty's Liberals, rather than making any particular change, while denying both the Progressive Conservatives and the New Democratic Party any gains at all.

The referendum on electoral reform, with its 62 percent rejection of the proposed change, may have been itself a casualty of the lack of interest that characterized voters' attitudes during the campaign period.

With the exception of PC leader John Tory's proposal to extend provincial funding to faith-based schools (other than Roman Catholic Schools), nothing seemed to catch fire and, sadly, the numbers of people voting in this election fell once again as a percentage of eligible voters, continuing the trend that has seen a steady decline over the past few provincial elections. (This was the lowest percentage of voters ever recorded in an Ontario election: 52.8 percent. The next lowest was in 1923 when just 54.7 per cent voted. In 2003, 56.9 per cent of the electorate voted.)

This apathy-and the fact that so many people claimed not to understand the mechanics of the mixed member proportional (MMP) electoral option-likely explains why so many people chose to stay with the traditional "first-past-the-post" system.

It does give pause, though, when we consider that fully 8 percent of the popular vote was parked with the Green Party, which failed to win a single seat in the legislature.

Very likely, it will be revisited at some point, but not anytime soon because it's clear that the citizens' political will for change just wasn't there.

If there was anything for political advisors to have learned from this campaign and the election outcome it was that it's dangerous to make proposals, as Mr. Tory did on behalf of his PCs, to extend funding to faith-based schools.

It seems that, politically at least, this was a textbook example of the maxim that, "if we don't learn from history's mistakes, we're bound to repeat them."

Indeed, it was a variation on Mr. Tory's proposal that caused voters to turn against the same PC party in the 1985 provincial election.

At that time, outgoing premier and PC leader Bill Davis set in motion a bill that extended funding to the Ontario Roman Catholic school system to the end of high school. (Previously, funding had only been available from kindergarten through Grade 10.)

While all parties in the legislature supported the PCs on this decision for "full funding of separate schools," the electorate didn't like it one bit and used the very next election to punish the PCs (by then with the late Frank Miller at the helm) and elect a minority Liberal government that hung on for two years with the issue-by-issue support of the NDP.

What were Mr. Tory's political and policy advisors thinking by allowing him to run around trying (for a time) to valiantly juggle this same hot potato? It's a fairly good guess that religious school funding will be left dustily sitting on the highest and most remote of back room policy shelves for a long, long time.

Naturally, there was any number of larger issues that could have caught fire with the electorate. But this just didn't happen this time, and a very cross and vexed Howard Hampton, NDP leader, lost his temper in front of a group of reporters a week before the election, accusing them of not making more out of health issues, minimum wage issues, Ontario Hydro issues.

He said he felt the press had gone the easy route, making much more of the faith-based school funding issue than it was worth, in the scheme of things.

He was right, of course. But the best news stories are built around conflict, and this issue (which the Liberal strategists quickly saw as a John Tory-PC flash point) became "the issue" by default.

If nothing else, it demonstrates that the Liberals' historical memory is far sharper than the PCs.

Letters to the Editor

Great-niece of soldier glad for attention paid to grave

After an 88-year wait, John Hughson was visited thrice

To the Expositor:

I was very interested in the article by Bob Yates ("Grave of Manitoulin soldier discovered during battlefields tour") published in the Wednesday, August 29 edition about the grave of John Simpson Hughson in the Givenchy-en-Gohelle Canadian War Cemetery, Vimy Ridge, France. He was my great-grandmother's youngest brother and I too had the pleasure of visiting his grave, and the pain of finding it. I visited on October 27, 2005 while my husband and I were living in England, and as an amateur genealogist I just had to find it. Then in August of 2006, another of his relatives visited his grave. This was Emma Shirley Brinson, granddaughter of John's brother, Isaac Nelson Hughson. My great-uncle therefore had to wait about 88 years for a visitor, but now has had three in the last three years. I hope that his family and fellow Haweaters will continue to seek out this remote, peaceful little cemetery on the western slopes of Vimy Ridge and be as captivated by its serenity as we were.

Colleen Moggy-Blonde

Milton

Water levels crisis calls for political will

Article fails to address where water's going

To the Expositor:

The August 22 edition of The Manitoulin Expositor published an informative article concerning lake water levels "Lake Huron faces pinch with less input and increased outflow." It cited a number of organizations expressing their concern. Throughout the article I did not find mention of our political will to manage the Canadian resource other than mention of a multi-year study by the International Joint Commission. There is also concern regarding the length of this investigation.

The article mentions a report undertaken by the Georgian Bay Association which is alarming. Dredging in the St. Clair River by the US Arms Corps is causing the Michigan-Huron system to hemorrhage. The chairperson of the Georgian Bay Association's Environmental Committee, as well as the Georgian Bay representative for the Waterkeepers' Allliance, says "it's time to stand up for the millions of boaters, shippers, anglers, property owners and beach-goers." The executive director of Great Lakes United agrees the situation is urgent. Level News, issued by Environment Canada, indicates all the Great Lakes are below their respective averages.

A multi-year study recently launched by the International Joint Commission may take six years to complete; the Georgian Bay Association is worried. The water squandered daily through the St. Clair River adds up to more than is consumed by all of Chicago's households in a given day.

The article did not address this fundamental question: Where is the water going?

Michael Gorman

Newmarket

Panther hopeful cut because of discrimination, parent charges

Where is the loyalty to our own Manitoulin players?

To the Expositor:

"Caveat emptor"-let the buyer beware. Everyone should indeed be reminded that what we buy into may not be necessarily good. That seems to be the case in minor hockey these days. As most of the readership is already aware, there has been much controversy about the business, or lack thereof, of the Panthers hockey organization on Manitoulin, such as a refusal to issue releases to quality players who should have been playing rep hockey outside Manitoulin. I sympathize with those parents affected, and especially the young hockey players.

All hockey associations must adhere to the "Speak Out" program, which maintains that abusive behaviour is taboo and demands that all cases be reported. Yet for one minor atom Panther hopeful-a well-qualified player not only in his division, but at a higher level-an instance of speaking out has resulted in him not being signed to play Panther rep hockey this season.

This is case of discrimination, because a parent advocated for him when certain abusive conduct was reported last year to team management. This has obviously carried over to this year in regard to the young boy's tryout efforts. When the comment was made in an after-practice pep talk that, "we are all family now," the boy asked, "me too?" "Yes, you too," was the reply. Then, after the parent was told to bring the boy to the next tryout practice, the official phoned to say there would be no signing.

The boy was also displaced because one of the team officials was busy headhunting during the off-season, acquiring players from neighbouring districts to come to Manitoulin and play rep hockey-quite likely collapsing their own organizations. As a matter of fact, I understand that Espanola does not have atom rep hockey due to lack of participation...ouch. Where is the commitment and loyalty to our own here on Manitoulin? I keep hearing, "We're here for the kids."

Team officials are further saving and holding cards for other players who are expected to return to Panther hockey. As a courtesy to the boy, I wonder if there are any cards left?

Because the boy was trying out for the Manitoulin peewee team, he missed atom Panther practice, and missed all practices the following week because he injured his foot at his school's running program. He thought he would not be forgotten for his efforts last year, and was told that if the peewee team didn't pan out, he could still play atom Panther hockey. Obviously, too much trust had been afforded.

Ron Odjig

Wikwemikong

Kim Moulton

Watson's General Store,

Sandfield

I'm your neighbour

It's mid-afternoon on a Friday in Sandfield, and though summer is over and the cooler weather has set in, Watson's General Store is abuzz with the activity of midday shoppers. Finding a moment to chat with Kim Moulton is proving a bit tricky.

"It's a gathering place," she shrugs, laughing amiably while filling up a shopping bag for a cottager. "Everybody gathers here, and everybody knows each other."

That's the biggest appeal for Watson's lone full-time employee. Since taking up her position behind the counter four years ago, Ms. Moulton has met everyone from the local residents and seasonal cottagers to the regulars driving through and those stopping in for the first time. She loves meeting them all, and welcomes each person with a big smile and a friendly greeting.

It sometimes catches the "newbies" off guard, but they soon adjust to the friendly, Manitoulin quality that Ms. Moulton personifies, and revel in exploring the store. "You should see the people who have never been in here before," she smiles. "They say, 'Oh wow, this is really neat. It's a real general store.'"

That it is. Watson's-which is currently operated by fourth-generation owner Bob Watson-has pretty much everything one needs, and even a little bit more. There are groceries and fresh produce, beer and liquor, gifts and souvenirs, and hardware and fishing gear. You can rent a movie here, find locally made jams and jellies, or get some block cheese and slab bacon from the deli. And, if you're like many of the customers, you'll pick up some of Bob's homemade Italian sausages while you're at it.

"It truly is a typical general store," Ms. Moulton says. "Including the slanted floors!"

While not a resident herself-Ms. Moulton lives a 20-minute drive away in Mindemoya-she praises the small community for its big heart, noting that everyone gets involved in local activities, whether it's a summer corn roast or a euchre tournament at the community centre.

"The community down here is fabulous," she says. "It really is a tight-knit community."

She is equally enthusiastic about her job and serving the people of whom she speaks so highly. "I love it," she says. "It's a great place to work."

Patronizing Manitoulin businesses like Watson's General Store creates enduring employment for Islanders like Kim Moulton.