Page 9 - Eureka 2012

breakfast with us. We spoke to a couple
of policemen who had come in from
Timmins the night before and they
told us a bit about their experiences.
her own rock collection: great coral It really is a challenging and complex photo: spencer Wynne, Toronto Star
and brachiopod fossils in claystone. place to live.
AND magnetite bearing iron formation! First-person account
Checked it with the magnets. Kids were Sunday afternoon:
excited to learn the magnets are made Waiting in Attawapiskat airport for
of this rock found in their community. our flight. Whirlwind day of packing
The afternoon Grade 3 class had 17 kids materials, touring the flea market –
(some kids had gone home at lunch and picked up some tiny moose hide mittens
told friends who were absent in the like the kids were wearing. None my
morning to come!). Got a huge thank size for sale! Fingers crossed for an
you card delivered from the Grade 1 uneventful trip!
class. Rushed to the secondary school
teachers’ workshop with the whole Sunday early evening:
Grade 3 class carrying my four huge In Timmins airport waiting for the Air
bins to the high school. We had one Canada desk to open so we can get on
teacher ask us if we thought the Cree our connecting flight to Toronto. Then
had gotten a “raw deal” from DeBeers on to Ottawa for me. Can’t believe our
in their negotiations and also wanted adventure is almost over.
to know about the reclamation plan. We
really couldn’t speak to the negotiations Sunday later in the evening:
as we didn’t know much about them, Just landed in Sudbury. Medical
but we did get into a good conversation emergency. Not serious, thank
about the mining industry in general goodness!
which we knew more about. With all the
media attention the town has received, Sunday even later:
suspicion among the townsfolk of Thanks to everyone for your positive
outsiders does sometimes run high. energy! I’ve just made it into Toronto
We did a grocery store run and I was and am sitting on my connecting flight
amazed at the prices: milk is $17 for to Ottawa!
3Litres, $15 for a bag of onions, $5 for
one red pepper. Took in a hockey game Sunday much later:
at the local rink. So much for my hope of a speedy flight.
We are apparently missing a signature
Saturday, mid-morning: in a maintenance logbook and will be
A couple of us took a walk this morning delayed leaving Toronto. Apparently it
around the community with our is a particular maintenance guy who
cameras. Glad to say that mine did not has to sign the logbook. He seems to
freeze and stop like others’ did! Took have gone home. We are delayed another
lots of photos. Interesting light with 25 minutes. People are giving me dirty
the variety of shades of white and the looks because I now have the giggles.
overcast sky. Bitter cold and biting
wind. Had to “tack” around the streets Monday afternoon:
to ensure we were not facing the wind I am home again. Got into Ottawa at
for too long. No one else was walking; 2:45 am and was home by 3:30 am. Just
all driving and looking at us as if we got up!
were nuts. Back at the motel kitchen,
we met Band Manager Wayne Turner. Wednesday afternoon:
Really interesting guy. Seemed very Still a bit dazed and confused to be
wary of us at the start but warmed up back in Ottawa. Still jazzed about the
as we told him what we were up to, visit to Attawapiskat. What a great
and what we had heard in the news opportunity to visit this community,
back home. He talked to us about meet new friends and discuss rocks. I Beth Halfkenny (back row) poses with some of
the Grade 3 students she met on her visit to
the community and ended up having have the best job!
Attawapiskat. All are wearing their Mining
Matters T-shirts that Beth handed out.

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