Miramichi Monthly, Vol. I, Issue 1

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The premier issue of Miramichi Monthly, published in September of 2004. We look at Forest Protection Limited in Miramichi, flying the last operational squadron of TBM Avengers and protecting New Brunswick's forests from fire. Edible plants and Yggdrasil Forest Products' annual field day provide points of interest for budding naturalists, and we examine the prospects of how a university could be made to work in the City of Miramichi. Recipes, horoscopes and local music make up even more great reads for this community magazine.

Transcript of Miramichi Monthly, Vol. I, Issue 1

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Unsolicited material submitted to Miramichi Monthly willnot be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed,stamped envelope. Submission of material constitutes anexpress warranty that the material is original and in noway infringes upon the rights of others. Miramichi Monthlyreserves the right to republish, in print or electronically,any material we accept for publication. The views or opin-ions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect

those of the publisher.

The advertiser agrees that Fareasterner shall not be heldliable for damages arising from errors in advertisementsbeyond the amount paid for the advertisement, or their por-tion of the advertisement, in which the error occurred: Thereshall be no liability for non insertion of any advertisementbeyond the amount of such advertisement. The publisherreserves the right to edit, revise, classify or reject any adver-

tisements.

©Copyright 2004Fareasterner

Volume 1 Issue 1September 2004

PublisherIan Ross

Features WriterDan Benoit

Sales & DesignIan Ross

ContributorsChristine Davison

Yeji KimDr. Elizabeth HaleStephen MacKnight

Clay Merrithew

This Issue...

Edible and Medicinal Plants.................... 5

Forward to School........................... 16

COVER STORY

Last of the Avengers................. 18

Features

Introduction................................................................4MUSIC: George Paul.................................................................9 Harmony Twins.........................................................10Back to School Safety Tips......................................................11RECIPES........................................................................12A Basic Toolkit...................................................................14BUSINESS: Young Professionals.......................................15PETS: Flea Season..........................................................21ASTROLOGY.................................................................22

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From the Publisher

Dan Benoit, Features Writer(Yeji Kim photos)Ian Ross, Publisher

Dan Benoit is a freelancewriter and journalist fromMiramichi. He is a graduateof Holland College on PrinceEdward Island. His work hasbeen published throughout theAtlantic provinces.

Welcome to the premier issue of Miramichi Monthly, a

new magazine covering the lifestyles, pastimes, and heritageof our city. Each month, we will arrive at your doorstep and doour best to entertain you and inform.

Miramichi Monthly is published by Fareasterner, an inde-pendent and locally-owned company, here in Miramichi. For the month of September, writer Dan Benoit takes us intothe forest for a second look at some common plants. Then,taking to the air, he brings us a story on the last operationalAvenger torpedo bombers flying in the world... and they’re lo-cated right here in Miramichi! Music columnist Stephen MacKnight presents us with a lookat George Paul’s new CD, while veterinarian Dr. ElizabethHale offers some helpful advice for your pets as we approach

September’s flea season. Astrologer Christine Davison shows us what lies ahead in the starsand, with the fall harvest underway, our recipes section looks at apples and preserves. We alsoask the question: could Miramichi support a university? Lastly, we’d like to thank all of our contributors and advertisers, who have made this possibleand helped us to make Miramichi Monthly a free publication for Miramichiers.

See you in October,

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Edible and

Medicinal PlantsBy Dan Benoit

The edible and medicinal plants available just under your nose might sur-prise you. Of the 300,000 or so wild plants on our planet, more than 120,000of them are edible. Because of this vast variety, learning to identify and use wild plants as asource of food and medicine can be an interesting and useful pastime.

Warning: Some wild plants have toxic parts or are toxic until prepared properly. Somepeople may have serious allergic reactions to some wild plants. Before you eat any wild

plant make sure of its identity and that it has been properly prepared.

Take the common dandelion for exam-ple. Though it’s become a scourge of mod-ern gardeners, the humble dandelion hasbeen an extremely useful plant for centu-ries. The French named the plant dent-de-lion,or lion’s tooth, because of its tooth-shapedleaves. First introduced to North America fromEurope by the first pioneers as a source offood, dandelions now grow virtuallyworldwide. The plant spreads further, isharder to kill and grows in harsher climatesthan most of its competitors. Tasting similar to chicory and endive, theleaves are extremely nutritious and con-tain vitamins B-1, B-2, B-5, B-6, B-12, C,E, P, and D, as well as biotin, potassium,phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc. Theycontain more beta-carotene than carrotsand more iron and calcium than spinach. A dinner fork, used to dig around the rootsystem, is the only tool you’ll need togather them. Collect dandelion leaves inearly spring before the flowers appear.Harvest them again in late fall. Dandeli-ons growing in rich, moist soil, with broadleaves and large roots are the best. Dandelion leaves can be sautéed, steamedor eaten raw in a salad. Most of the bitter-ness can be removed from the leaves byboiling them in two changes of water. The root is edible year-round, but is bestfrom late fall to early spring. It can be used

as a cooked veg-etable, especiallyin soups. A close relativeof chicory, dande-lion root alsomakes an excellent coffee substitute. Af-ter gathering, clean the roots and dry themout. Roast them in an oven and grind themup and you’re good to go for a refreshingcup of Joe. Dandelion root is also one of the safestand most popular herbal remedies around.It’s good for ailments of the stomach, in-testines, pancreas, bladder, and spleen andis even recommended to combat stress. Yetdespite all the uses the dandelion has, it iswidely considered to be a pest. More than$50,000,000 was spent in Canada last yearto kill it off.

Dandelion TeaIngredients:six dandelion leavesboiling waterone teaspoon honey (optional)Method:Remove the leaves from the stems andtear them into strips. Place in the bottomof a mug, pour on enough boiling waterto fill the mug and leave to stand for 5-10 minutes. Strain and drink. For asweeter brew, add 1 teaspoon of honey.

Continued p.8

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Yggdrasil Forest Products hosted its fifth annual field day July 10. A Russellville-based forestry company, Yggdrasil has promoted a greater knowl-edge of the Miramichi environment over the past five years with examinationsof such topics as the geology of eastern New Brunswick, beneficial and harmfulinsects and the relationship between flowering plants and trees. The field dayshave been open and free in accordance with the company’s philosophy of globalawareness. This year’s theme was edible and medicinal plants. The field days have be-come increasingly popular with 42 attendees this year, up from 16 the previousyear. The field day kicked off at French Fort Cove under threatening skies but onlylight intermittent showers were experienced throughout the day. The afternoonsessions were held on the Yggdrasil property in Russellville. Presenters includedDave McLeod, one of New Brunswick’s leading naturalists, Jim Saunders, localforester and naturalist, Gary Mahoney, an expert on the medicinal uses of plantsand Clay Merrithew, naturalist. All presenters are residents of the Miramichiarea. Attendees were exposed to a number of plants from the ubiquitous dandelionto the rare and exquisite cucumber root. The edible and medicinal properties ofall the plants were explained in detail. Poisonous and noxious plants such aspoison ivy and deadly nightshade were also shown. Over forty plants were pre-sented throughout the day. Most participants were amazed by the diversity andusefulness of many common plants. Lunch and supper were catered by the Goodie Shop Restaurant, the latter be-ing a woodland barbecue. Five-year pins were presented to Dave McLeod, JimSaunders, Eddie and Cheryl Bourque and William Cormier.

Edible and Medicinal Plants

Learning in the FieldBy Clay Merrithew

Clay Merrithew shows local flora to field trip goers. (Dan Benoit Photo)

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Easily identified by their furry, cigar-shaped heads sitting on long stalks,cattails can be found in the spring andsummer in or alongside the water ofmarshes, ponds and ditches. They cangrow up to 15 feet tall and have stiff pale-green leaves. Harvest cattails when the ground is dry.The roots can be used in salads, breadmaking, soups, pickles, jellies and stir-fries. The young roots have a sweet tasteand are high in starch. Grate and boilthem to draw out the starch for cooking. The shoots are edible as well. Selectlarge shoots that have no flowers. Sepa-rate the outer leaves from the core untilyou reach the soft inner core of the plant.A few late-spring stalks can deliverenough food for a decent meal provid-ing beta-carotene, niacin, riboflavin,thiamine, potassium, phosphorus, andvitamin C. When the male flowers ripen in latespring, they produce gold coloured pol-len rich in minerals, protein, and energy.This can be gathered and used as flourin baking breads, muffins, pancakes.Since it is time-consuming to collect inquantity, mix it with at least three timesas much whole-grain flour. You can alsoeat the pollen raw or as a topping.The plant also has medicinal uses. FirstNations people used the jelly from be-tween the young leaves as a salve to treatwounds, sores, swelling and to soothepain. As well, the smoke from burning thebrown flower head with its pollen re-moved can be used as insect repellent.

Blueberries are another common wildfood. Everyone knows they can be usedto make everything from jellies to cakesto pies. But few people know their hid-den health secrets. For instance, a tea made from wildblueberry leaves are a proven treatmentfor diabetes, said biologist DaveMacLeod.The tea is easy to prepare. Gather fourtablespoons of wild blueberry leavespicked before the berries are ripe andfour litres of water. Boil both togetheruntil the water is reduced to one litre.Drink the remaining water three timesdaily, MacLeod said.

Cattails Blueberries

Most people learn about stinging nettlethe hard way, usually by walking into apatch of them. Nettles are covered withhairs that produce an intense, stinging painwhen touched. But few people know theymake an excellent cooked vegetable. Nettles usually appear in the same placesyear after year. Look for them in moistwoodlands, along rivers, and partiallyshaded trails. Collect nettle leaves before they flowerin spring. They may be bad for the kid-neys after they flower, the website said. New nettles come up in the fall, and youcan pick them before they’re killed byfrost. Collect them using work gloves, andwear a long-sleeved shirt. The youngleaves are said to be the best part of theplant. Clean and chop nettles wearing rubbergloves. Once you’ve cooked them a lit-tle, the stingers are deactivated, and theplant becomes edible. The plant has very high levels of miner-als, especially, calcium, magnesium, iron,potassium, phosphorous, manganese,silica, iodine, silicon, sodium, and sulphur.They’re also a good source of vitamin C,beta-carotene, and B complex vitamins.Nettles are also high in amino acids.They’re ten per cent protein, more thanany other vegetable. Native Americans used them for embroi-dery, fishnets, and other crafts. You caneven extract a yellow die from the roots. Other uses include treating gout, glan-dular diseases, poor circulation, enlargedspleen, diarrhea, worms, intestinal andcolon disorders and hemorrhoids.

Stinging Nettle

Sources: www.botanical.comwww.wildmanstevebrill.com

Illustrations by Ian Ross

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Standing with one foot on eitherside of a fence can be a difficultchore. This is true in politics and re-ligion but nowhere is it more trouble-some than in the arts. George Pauleffortlessly straddles two worlds andhas enriched both with his music. Born in Red Bank, Mr. Paul re-members that music was alwaysaround as he was growing up. Hesang in the school choir and washeavily influenced by the music ofthe sixties but never lost touch withthe sound of his culture. He playedpercussion and learned chants, even-tually mastering the ability to createsongs and chants out of the melodiesin his head. The melody comes first,he explains. The job then is to fit lyr-ics to it, often a long term process. Itwas in 1991 that Mr. Paul went toP.E.I. and recorded “TraditionalMik’Maq Chants”; it was a learningexperience but he was ready to in-corporate his own musical ideas intohis craft. Thus began the steep learningcurve any artist faces when trying tomaster the business side of things.

by Stephen MacKnight

Mr. Paul went to ACOA and theyhelped put him in touch with vari-ous agencies that provide art grants.These grants have helped greatly todefray the costs involved with re-maining an independent recordingartist. In 1998 George went to Beresfordand laid down the tracks for “RedOchre”, the album that really beganto get him noticed. “Ochre” con-tained original songs that showed agreat respect for his traditions, andit has been the template for his ca-reer ever since. By steadfastly stay-ing on both sides of the cultural fenceGeorge combines historical and con-temporary ideas that teach and en-tertain. North American popular cul-ture is a steamroller and the only way,he feels, to survive is to bring theMik’Maq ethic into the mainstream.Today’s youth are losing the lan-guage and that is always the ominousfirst step in losing the rest of a cul-tural identity. George feels the needto “preserve our culture while we’rebombarded with continuouschange”. The language can not only be pre-served but strengthened when it isset in this context. He feels optimismbecause of the recent changes in rec-ognizing traditional categories inmusic awards, both the Junos and theGrammys have made great strides innominating those who toil on thefringes, and sometimes those edgesmanage to capture the imaginationof the mainstream. “Spirit of Dreams” followed at the

end of 2003 and it was recorded atthe Packing Shed in Chatham. Onceagain, mixing old and new, it solidi-fied George as someone who was notgoing to leave the public eye or ear.Aboriginal artists who have made adent in the mainstream are few andfar between but George looked upparticularly to Kashtin for their in-spiring ability to mix languages sowell. A great song or sound will crossboundaries and make itself felt.George’s songs are being felt in otherways as well; a school board outsideFredericton purchased many of hiscd’s to use in its native studiesclasses. The best is still ahead for George.He has just returned from playing inHalifax at the Tall Ships festival. Heperformed on the deck of the“Caledonia” in front of the thousandsof people at the event and while heregrets being a kind of tourist attrac-tion he felt great pride in represent-ing his people in such a huge forum.To share the “beauty of our culture”and show the “Mik’Maq striving tobe side by side and not underfoot” ishis ultimate goal. “Ancient Sounds Emerging” is thetitle of his forthcoming album ex-pected by October and once again itwill feature new and traditionalchants with a touch of modernsounds underneath. George Paul’salbums can be found at SaltwaterSounds and R.O.W. Supporting ourartists is vital to the health of thisregion’s music scene.

George PaulWalking That Fine Line

Music

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A pair of twin sisters are glad they foundtheir harmony again. Mary Stewart andher twin sister Martha Howe released theirfirst CD in May. Now known to local fans as the Har-mony Twins, the duo made their musicaldebut singing old country and gospel aschildren. “We started out singing when we werenine years old, singing with Dad inchurch,” Stewart said, “singing in churchrallies.” But as the sisters grew up, the singingstopped. That was until they started going to theMiramichi Country Music Opry, operatedby Bill Mullin, about a year ago. “The atmosphere up there at BillyMullin’s is just wonderful,” she said. “The owners are exceptionally wonder-

ful people. We’re all just like a big familythere.” Martha started going to the club first butit wasn’t long before the pair was singingtogether, she said. “It’s sort of new in the last year for usto be performing together again.” Mullin really appreciates the pair’s tal-ent. “They’re good singers. They’ve gotgreat personalities and the people likethem. “They’ve been a great asset,” he said. The pair got their stage name from RonGaston, another local performer, Stewartsaid. “He used to say we played beautifully.‘I think we’re going to call them the Har-mony Twins,’” he said to a packed houseone night. The name stuck. After several people asked the newlyformed duo where they could purchase aCD, the sisters decided it was time tomake one. “We were inspired to do it.” They recorded the album over three

nights in March. The CD launch was heldat the Mullin’s club in May. They’ve sincesold out their first run. It’s been a real helpin getting their name around. “Since the CD we’ve been singing at alot of benefits.” Their music has also aired on BillMullin’s Gospel Show and Home Brew,two programs on 99.3 The River. There’seven talk of a Christmas album, she said. The pair will play at a gospel inDoaktown Oct. 29.

By Dan Benoit

The Harmony Twins

Two-step

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TIPS for Children

TIPS for Parents

�ALWAYS walk and play in pairs or groups.�WHEN going to school go directly there anddo not stop along the way.�NEVER go with anyone unless they can give youthe “secret code” or “password.”�NEVER hitchhike.�ALWAYS be sure your parents/caregiver knowswhere you are.�USE the same route every day.�ALWAYS ask for your parents’/caregiver’s per-mission before going to a friend’s home afterschool.�NEVER ride home with anyone unless you haveyour parents’/caregiver’s permission first.

�TAKE primary age children on a walking tour of their route to and fromschool. Point out Block Parent® homes, other safe places and danger-ous places along the way.�NEVER put your child’s name on the outside of their coats, hats,backpacks, etc., as it makes it easier for someone to gain their trust bycalling them by their name.�MAKE sure your child knows their name, address and telephonenumber, including area code.�MAKE sure your child knows how to use a pay phone in an emer-gency.�ALWAYS keep an updated list of names, addresses and phone num-bers of your child’s friends.�POST emergency numbers by the phone.�KNOW your child’s whereabouts at all times.�CHECK with your school to make sure they have a “Safe Arrival pro-gram” or “absentee check.”�BE familiar with your child’s friends and daily activities.�REINFORCE with your child that strangers can drive any type of vehi-cle, can be male or female, young or old, short or tall, or can lookshabby or be well-dressed.�CONSIDER using a “secret code” or “password” should someoneother than you pick-up your child .�MAKE the school aware of any food allergies your child may have. Itmay be wise to have your child wear a Medic Alert bracelet.�CHECK with your school to see if they have the “walking school bus”program.�CHECK with your school to see what other community initiatives theyhave.�REINFORCE these safety tips by playing “what if...?” games with yourchild.

Back to School Safety Tips provided by N.B. Block Parent Association

The New Brunswick Block Parent Association seeks a coordinatorfor the Miramichi area. For information, call 1-800-665-4900.

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Freezer Cucumber Pickles

Seven cucumbers, peeled with the seeds removed.Cut cucumbers into chunks (about eight cups).Add 1½ cups of chopped onions.Sprinkle with two tbsp. coarse salt and let standone hour. Drain and rinse.Mix together:One cup of vinegar.Two cups of white sugar.One tsp. of mustard seed.One tsp. of celery seed.Put cucumbers and onions into containers. Dividethe juice and fill up containers to one inch fromthe top.Freeze.

Chow Chow

30 medium green tomatoes (seven and a halfpounds).¾ cup of coarse salt.½ medium cabbage (three cups minced).Three medium onions (chopped).Six-and-a-half cups of vinegar.Two-and-a-half cups of sugar.One tbsp. of celery seed.One tbsp. mustard seed.½ tbsp. of whole cloves.Chop tomatoes. Combine with salt and let standovernight. Drain and add cabbage and onions. Mixvegetables together and add vinegar, sugar andspices tied loosely in a cheesecloth bag. Cookuncovered over low heat until vegetables aretender, about 30 minutes. Pour into hot sterilizedjars and seal.Yields about 12 cups.

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The Best Ever Apple CrispApple mixture:Five cups peeled, cored and sliced apples.¼ cup of flour.Three tbsp. of sugar.One tsp. of cinnamon.

Crumble topping:½ cup of melted butter,¾ cup of packed brown sugar.½ cup of flour.One cup of rolled oats.

In a medium-size bowl, mix together the apples,flour, sugar and cinnamon and place in an 8x8baking pan.Using the same bowl, mix together the brownsugar, flour, rolled oats and melted butter. Sprinklethe mixture over the fruit, forcing a little down thecracks between the slices of fruit. Pat down gently.Bake at 350 degrees F for 35 minutes or until theapples are tender and the topping is slightlybrowned and crisp.

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A Different Apple PieButter a nine-inch pie plate.Peel, core and thinly slice five apples.Put apples into pie plate.Sprinkle with ¼ cup sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon.In a bowl combine two tbsp. of butter and ½ cup ofsugar.Mix in one egg.Add ½ cup flour.One tsp. of baking powder.Stir until smooth.Drop batter by spoonfuls over apples.Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes or untilapples are soft and topping is cooked.

Apple JuiceCut apples in halves and quarters. Place in con-tainer and cover with boiling water. Let stand 24hours and pour off the juice. Add ¼ cup of sugar tofour cups of juice. Bring to a boil and put into jars.

Thanks to Pat Wilson of Black River Bridge for contribut-ing her recipes for Apple Juice, A Different Apple Pie, TheBest Ever Apple Crisp and Freezer Cucumber Pickles.

Thank you as well to June Ross for her Chow Chow recipe.

September’s Specials:

Apples and Preserves

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Most people, even those who think of themselves as allthumbs, probably have a few tools around the house that they’vegathered for a quick fix here and there. A basic understandingof how to use them is all you will need to tackle everyday projectsaround the home. If you’re going to use tools and want to find them when youneed them, you’re going to need a toolbox. How much timehave you wasted on a project trying to find a screwdriver or ahammer in a drawer or under the kitchen sink? A good quality,lightweight plastic toolbox keeps all your tools in one easy tofind place and makes transporting them a breeze. Ed O’Donnell, the hardware manager at the local CanadianTire, was kind enough to send me a list of tools he thought wouldbe needed for a helpful basic toolbox. “Buy the best tools youcan afford,” O’Donnell said. You’ll save money in the long run.

Start with the toolbox itself. A sturdy plastic one with a re-movable tray will work fine. A good 16-ounce claw hammer will come in handy for avariety of projects. A pair of slip-joint pliers are great for giving you extra grip-ping power. Add to the box a screwdriver with assorted bits.Make sure the handle is comfortable before you buy. Also get a16-foot retractable measuring tape, with a lock to hold the tapein place. A medium-size adjustable wrench will come in handy whenyou loosen bolts. A crosscut handsaw works well for a variety of woodwork-ing projects, a hacksaw is indispensable for cutting metal and aflashlight could turn out to be a lifesaver during power failures.A breakaway utility knife with snap off ends will be a neces-sity on various projects.

All-purpose glue, masking and electrical tape, string, a file,nails and screws in assorted sizes, thumb tacks, picture hang-ers in assorted sizes, and a small level round out the toolbox. These tools can be purchased as a ready-made kit, which tendsto be more expensive and will perhaps contain more items thanyou will need, O’Donnell said. Items purchased separately giveyou more flexibility, control over cost, type, quality and the sat-isfaction of personal selection making it your very own, he said. A good-quality home-repair manual is a good resource tohave on hand as well. Be sure to pick up a good pair of safetyglasses, but be even surer to wear them.

MakingaBasicToolkit

by Dan Benoit

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Business

When the Miramichi ProsperityTask Force’s report and subsequenteconomic package were announcedin April, candidates with a provenhistory of success were targeted aspotential recipients. But for a numberof new entrepreneurs and commu-nity-minded youth, it sounded as ifa lack of experience would limitthem from expressing their ideas, orplaying a role in how the city willdevelop. Nikki Hilton is one who is eagerto see this new crop of voices emergeand bring them together to plan thefuture of their city. “We need to take an inventory ofthe attitudes of young people in thearea, to find original ideas,” she says. Hilton came to the Miramichi fouryears ago, and now works as a char-tered accountant for Fatkat Anima-tion Studio. In that time, she has wit-nessed the loss of long time family-run stores and the coming of big boxstores. “Every place has a Walmartbut it’s the neat little shops that bring

people back.” While she agrees that stores likeWalmart are necessary, Hilton hopesfor a trade off. To that end, she ishoping that young businesspeoplewill come together. “We need people to challenge thethinking that is already established,”she states, pointing out that a unitedvoice can achieve greater attention. “The new faces of the economy,”she describes, are trying things thatare completely different. “There are a lot of things aroundthat people want to run that are notbig money-makers. But they not onlycreate business for themselves, theyact as secondary businesses. A shop-per may come to see the sales, thenstay to eat at one of the restaurants,for example.” This interrelation, she fears, is indanger of being lost, as is the chancefor young people to start these busi-nesses. Getting together allows the oppor-tunity to “see what people want,” shesays— be it city transit, access togreater education, or beautifying thedowntowns— and for that purpose,Hilton has begun organising a meet-ing of young professionals. She is

Drawing YoungProfessionals Together

By Ian Ross

NikkiHilton

calling out to any young, fresh-think-ing individuals who would like tonetwork and share their ideas.“We’re not just seeking businesspeople either. We’d like to meet peo-ple like teachers, nurses, and others,as they have a lot to offer.” The first meet-and-greet is plannedfor September 15th, at 8 p.m., in theChatham Dooly’s. There will be foodand drink specials, and the eveningis set to be an informal gathering ofpositive ideas. All are welcome.

For more information, email:

[email protected]

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Ideas

September marks the back-to-school season. For most of ouruniversity students it also represents the time they leave home.Though there are several vocational schools here, a thriving com-munity college, and even an option to attend some university classes,the brass ring of a degree remains out of reach at home. Even stu-dents attending the junior college will one day have to leave if theywish to complete their studies. When one in five Canadians be-tween the ages of 20 and 34 has completed a university education,who can blame our young people for aspiring to the same? Miramichi suffers from this loss of youth. We send our childrenaway at great financial cost and the social impact to our city isimmeasurable. What would it take to establish a full-fledged, de-gree-granting institution here on the river? What would it achieve?And…

Who would go? Before getting into the mechanics of setting it up, we should tacklethe question of whether people would go to a University ofMiramichi. Many of our young people already attend the juniorcollege, but the lion’s share go away for schooling; having a uni-versity here would not stop this. University is about getting out onyour own and moving away from parents but the benefit of havinga university here is that we could also be on the receiving end ofstudents. The New Brunswick Community College in Miramichiprovides a good indicator. According to Student Services, 50 percent of their students come from away. Build it and they will come. Student enrollment in universities isever-increasing and the market for international students is set toexplode. Canadian universities are in line to prosper phenomenally.

Canadian universities have a reputation on par with that of mostAmerican schools, but are perceived as having less crime, often abetter exchange rate against international currencies, and fewer visarestrictions than those of post 9/11 America. Education is poised to become one of Canada’s leading com-modities in the world.

How do we do it? Recently, the province has changed the way university accredita-tion is handled. The Degree-Granting Act allows for private insti-tutions to offer degrees provided they pass an evaluation by theMaritime Provinces Higher Education Commission. Unlike that inthe U.S., our system does not accredit entire universities, but handlesdegree programs individually. This has allowed smaller schools,such as Yorkville University and Lansbridge University to beginoffering Master of Business Administration programs, and thenexpand, degree by degree, as their student body grows. There’s just one hitch. Both Lansbridge and Yorkville are prima-rily online universities although they plan expansions of physicalcampus sites. If we wish to attract a student body in residence, weneed a real ‘brick and mortar’ campus—and one that’s marketableas a dignified and refined institution.

Where do we build it? Constructing new buildings would be both expensive and unnec-essary. We have the makings of a campus staring us in the face. TheNewcastle courthouse lies ready to receive students with only slightremodeling. Its two courtrooms would be ideally suited to becomelecture halls, and its historic exterior would offer a face for ouruniversity. But the real beauty in this plan lies in the fact that roughlyhalf of the surrounding property is also currently up for sale. Within walking distance of the courthouse, right next-door in fact,lies the former St. Mary’s convent, now Jubilee Christian Centre.It also is a historic building that is for sale and one that could beeasily converted into a student dormitory. Additionally, both build-

Back Forward to SchoolThe University of Miramichi?

By Ian Ross

Clockwise from top left: Jubilee Christian Centre (former St. Mary’s convent), vacant lot atthe corner of King George Hwy. and Newcastle Blvd., Newcastle Legion Hall, NewcastleCourthouse, Memorial Field, the River Inn Annex, and the River Inn. (Ian Ross photos)

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ings offer a great deal of space behind, which could be developedinto green spaces or university infrastructure. Across the street, looking down the hill, is a bulldozed parkinglot, the River Inn and River Inn Annex, and the Newcastle LegionHall— all have been made available for sale. Not for sale but ac-cessible for sporting events is Memorial Field behind HarkinsMiddle School, a two-minute walk away. In fact, so many properties are available in such close proximitythat the city is missing a great opportunity if they fail to develop astrategy to encompass all of them.

How do we pay for it? Establishing a university is an expensive proposition. To evalu-ate each degree offered the price tag rests somewhere between$25,000 and $50,000 depending on the intensity of the course. The proper faculty must be attracted also. According to the PostSecondary Affairs Branch of the Department of Education, anycourse above first-year must be taught by a professor of PhD level.An average prof’s salary can run from $50,000 from $80,000 ayear, depending on the field, but could be much higher for courseswhere professionals routinely earn more, like Engineering for in-stance. Furthermore, each degree program would require a half-dozen or more instructors and just as many support staff. A university must prove they offer a broad-based education, havesufficient resources such as libraries and they must provide a greaterlevel of critical thinking and analytical skills than vocational schools,who primarily teach what is only directly related to gaining em-ployment in one’s field of study. The expectations on a hypotheti-

cal Miramichi University are great and all of these cost money. This generates a significant dilemma. Private universities areexpensive. Without some form of subsidy, tuitions could reach$20,000 a year, making the whole situation impractical. In publicuniversities, to contrast, tuition only accounts for between 25 and30 per cent of a university’s operating expenses. The rest is paidfor by government subsidies and philanthropic contributions, nei-ther of which a University of Miramichi would be entitled to un-less it was endowed public status by an act of the Legislature. NewBrunswick has four public universities but has yet to express anydesire to increase that number. Neighbouring Nova Scotia, by theway, has close to a dozen. This is where we have to pull some political slight-of-hand. Aportion of the Miramichi Prosperity Task Force fund could be usedto offset our lack of public funding. A university is a business. Asmentioned earlier, education is becoming a dominant market of thefuture, especially in terms of international students. While a stu-dent studies, they normally don’t take away jobs but rather providethem by injecting tens of thousands of dollars into the local economyeach year. A report published by the University of New Brunswick’sEconomics Department (Sept. 2002) stated the university gener-ated a financial impact of $1.68 for every dollar spent, withouttaking its public funding into consideration. The value increases to$3.93 in comparison with “seed capital” received from the N.B.government as an operating grant. From that point of view, a uni-versity is a very lucrative thing to have around. And of course, the social impact of having students is just asimmeasurable as the impact of their absence.

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Page 18: Miramichi Monthly, Vol. I, Issue 1

By Dan Benoit

As the pilots make their way to theregular 1 p.m. meeting, word sweepsthrough Forest Protection Limited’sheadquarters in Chatham of two wildfires burning in the province. One isjust outside Fredericton, the otheronly miles away in a residential areaof Miramichi. The pilots of the lastthree commercially used GrummanTBM Avengers on Earth might bebeating back forest flames anyminute. Though more than 60 years old,the Avengers have proven them-selves time and again as rugged,reliable firefighting aircraft. An air of excitement builds amongthe pilots as they make their way tothe meeting room. “This’ll be my first fire,” saidBill Gillies of British Columbia,who is flying number 10 Avenger.“I’ve been waiting a month.” The pilots gather around a longtable for the briefing. Pilot Yves St. Germain reads themost recent weather reports. Windsare up and it’s hot and dry: perfect

conditions for a small fire to turninto a raging inferno. The pilots aska few questions about theFredericton and Miramichi fires.They’re under control for now, butthe pilots, as always, are onstandby. After the meeting, St. Germainexplains the importance of theweather briefing. “I’ve been in fire suppression for20 years. I’ve seen all kinds of firesover the years. Sometimes theweather changes on you prettyquick,” he said. “That’s the thing with this job. If itrains, it rains. If it’s nice, you getwork.”

Above: An Avenger is refuelled.Top: Past photo, taken when sixAvengers were operated by FPL.Top inset: Avenger in flight overMiramichi.

Founded in 1952, Forest ProtectionLimited (FPL) is a non-profit com-pany mandated to protect the prov-ince’s forests from the air. At its peak, FPL had 45 craft in itscontract fleet. But operations werescaled back over the years and onlysix fire-fighting aircraft now remainin active service. Three are Aveng-ers. The center of the province is moreprone to lightning strikes, St.Germain said. With its long runwayand geographic location, theChatham airport is a natural spot forthe company’s headquarters. “Wecan cover the province from here.” Gillies agreed. “This is a good strip,” he said, add-ing some of the strips they use, likethe one in Sevogle, aren’t muchwider than the wings of the planes. The pilots come from all acrossCanada but call Miramichi homefrom April to September. Sittingaround the waiting room, they tosstales of fire battles back and forth. “It’s usually not a very nice day,”said Erwin Joyall, the most seniorpilot there. “You don’t have nice, smooth fly-

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Page 19: Miramichi Monthly, Vol. I, Issue 1

“If these things were a car,they’d still have a war-ranty on them. They’re agood airplane.”

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ing conditions for fires. It’s dry andhot and windy.” The bomber team’s main job is tocontrol the direction of the fires, notput them out, Joyall said. “That’s a job done by the groundcrew. We contain it.” The bombers carry a retardantmade of fertilizer and water. TheAvengers can carry 500 gallons offire-retardant, about 2,270 litres.Their bulk gives them the advantageof stability in the air. “They’re such

a heavy plane they can absorb a lot,”explained Sandy McKinnon, ChiefAir Attack officer. Three newer aircraft sit waiting onthe airstrip for another chance to soarin the clouds. Though slightlysmaller in size than the Avengers, theAir tractor 802 can carry 100 gallonsmore retardant than their older sib-lings. But they’re harder to handle,McKinnon said. “These ones arelighter and they take a little more fi-nesse.” The wind tears across the runway.The sky is hazy, the air heavy andhot. The pilots are getting restless.Gillies watches fellow Avenger pi-lot Kevin Dorcas riding a bicyclearound in circles. Gillies left a good flying job behindhim in British Columbia to fly anAvenger. He was working for afriend’s company as a bush pilotwhen he got the job offer. For him, itwasn’t a difficult choice. “I said ‘Pete, I’ve just got to go. I’vebeen dreaming of flying these TBMs

my whole aviation life. I’m sorry, butI’ve got to go.’” He looks at his plane. “That’s the lure of the TBM. I threwit all out the window when I got theopportunity to fly these things. “That’s the last working fleet. It’sthe thrill of a lifetime to be able tofly an aircraft like this operationally.” Later, pilot Ronald Clowes fromGrand Falls shows off the signatureput on the side of his aircraft byformer United States presidentGeorge Bush. On July 9, 2002,Clowes and his team met the 41st

president, who flew and had to ditchan Avenger during the Second WorldWar. Meeting Bush was an experi-ence he’ll remember for a long time,he said. The largest single-engine aircraftbuilt during the Second World War,the first Grumman TBM Avengertook flight on Aug. 1, 1941. Between1941 and 1943, almost 2,300 of theAmerican-made torpedo bomberswere built. From the landings atGuadalcanal in August of 1942 untilthe end of the Pacific campaign in1945 the Avenger was the only ship-board torpedo aircraft in use by theU.S. Navy. The pilots aren’t the only ones

Mechanics working on aircraft in the hangar.

who appreciate these old aircraft. “The mechanics love theseairplanes,” Gillies said. “These ba-bies are their pride and joy and theyknow these babies inside out.” The three Avengers at the base havevery few man-hours and a lot of ten-der loving care has gone into theirmaintenance, McKinnon said.“If these things were a car, they’d stillhave a warranty on them. They’re agood airplane.”

Sometimes after refueling, a me-chanic will come to the hanger doorand listen to the sound of the enginefrom across the airstrip, Gillies said. “They’ll give you a little nod andyou know your aircraft is workingwell. They’re the real heroes. We justget to have all the fun.” Clowes mentioned another unsung

Watching as an Avenger arrives.

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Title photos provided courtesy ofForest Protection Ltd.

Feature photos by Dan Benoit.

hero, Miramichi firefighter DavidFlieger, who volunteers his timedriving a crash truck at the airstrip. “All of his spare time he’s over herewith the crash truck. The pilots re-ally appreciate it,” Clowes said. “It’s a nice thing to come in at nightand see that big yellow fire truck onthe end.” Clowes recalled a fire the teamfought in Riverview in June of thisyear. “We dumped 70 loads plus what-ever the two planes from Quebecdropped,” Clowes said. “I thought they were gonna lose awhole row of houses and we savedevery damn one of them.” The whole team is like a big fam-ily, Clowes said. “These guys are re-ally nice guys to work with.” It has a lot to do with their workethic, he said. “We try to give 100

per cent or nothing. I think we provedthat on that Riverview fire.” St. Germain said 1986 was theworst year for fires he can remem-ber. “Newcastle, Renous, Gagetown,Kirkwood. Everywhere you lookedthere were fires.” Offering a different opinion,McKinnon said the dry summer of1999 was the worst. “We had about 150 missions thatyear.” On average, the company mighthave 30 to 40 missions a year,McKinnon said. The fire burning in Miramichi hasbeen put out by the city fire depart-ment. No word on the one inFredericton yet. The pilots wait. Looking at the three Avengers linedup on the airstrip, Gillies said he

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knew he’d never get a chance likethis one again. “You could have millions of dol-lars but you couldn’t buy this becauseit’s so unique,” he said. “I’m justproud to be part of it all.”

Ideas for upcomingfeature stories?

Email us [email protected]!

Page 21: Miramichi Monthly, Vol. I, Issue 1

Pets

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Fleas. These parasitic insects areone of nature’s most persistent pests,and the bane of many a pet owner. Isee fleas on animals throughout theyear, but autumn is when the popu-lation is highest. Given this year’sheat and humidity (the flea’s favour-ite climate for reproduction), the au-tumn of 2004 should produce abumper crop! Dog and cat fleas spend their shortadult lives on their hosts, feeding onblood and laying many, MANY eggs.These eggs fall from the animal’scoat to the ground (or carpet, floor,furniture...they’re not fussy) wherethey hatch into caterpillars. The cat-erpillars grow and spin cocoons fromwhich they emerge as adults, readyto jump onto the first host (dog, cat,ferret, etc.) that walks by. The cocoons are extremely tough.For example, they are resistant toinsecticidal sprays. And, the littlefleas in their cocoons also knowwhen to hatch. If winter comes, theywill wait for spring. If the environ-ment becomes very dry, they wait forhumidity. Fleas are survivors. As the fleas multiply, so do the bitesand so does your pet’s discomfort(compare it to being in the woods atnight without fly repellent). And, ifyour pet develops an allergy to theflea bites it will be miserable. Ani-mals with flea allergies are so itchythey will literally lick and chewthemselves raw, especially in theirhind quarters, causing skin infections

needing veterinary attention. What is the best way to deal withfleas? Prevent having these uninvitedguests in the first place. There aremany excellent, cost effective andenvironmentally friendly flea prod-ucts available now. Some kill theadult fleas and are especially help-ful if your are dealing with largenumbers of fleas or an animal with aflea allergy. Others prevent fleasfrom reproducing; starting your peton one of these products in thespring/summer will prevent an au-tumn flea population explosion. Ifyour schedule allows it, daily use ofa flea comb also works. Your localveterinary clinic can help you choosea product that is right for you. Before these treatments came on themarket, we relied mainly on spraysor powders containing pyrethrin orpermethrin. These insecticides havebeen used, and misused, for ages, somore and more fleas are showingresistance to them (thus, they may –or may not – work). They are nowalso available at department storesas over-the-counter “spot on” prod-ucts. Personally, I have never beenkeen on these items being used with-out veterinary advice. Cats are verysensitive to these insecticides, andpeople have been known to put themore concentrated dog products oncats, or to “double dose” their pets,because the fleas (probably resistant)aren’t dying, resulting in an emer-gency trip to the vet! In summary, using a safe and reli-able flea prevention product will ul-timately save you worry and veteri-nary costs, and allow you and yourpet to enjoy the summer and autumnrather than dread the “flea season”.

by Elizabeth Hale DVM

“Great fleas have littlefleas upon their backs tobite ‘em, And little fleashave lesser fleas, and soon, ad infinitum...”Augustus de Morgan

Fight or FleaFight or FleaFight or FleaFight or FleaFight or Flea

Page 22: Miramichi Monthly, Vol. I, Issue 1

you too much. Perhaps escaping with a long bathor detective novel may do you some good. Pam-per yourself.

Libra (23rd September – 23rd October) This isgood time to look over house matters and re-lated concerns, individual partnerships or the arts.Take care not to overeat, but don’t deny yourselfeither!

Scorpio (24th October – 22nd November) Pastdifficulties with parents and siblings may cometo surface. Concerns with moving may weigh ob-sessively in the mind; try to relax, these prob-lems will soon pass.

Sagittarius (23rd November – 21st December)This may be a time of sudden upset and turmoilespecially concerning house and family. Pastmaternal issues come to light. A good time to dosomething adventurous.

Capricorn (22nd December – 20th January) Aclear and creative time! Relationships with part-ners and children will blossom and grow. Thereis a possibility of new loves and friendships, andan end to old quarrels.

Aquarius (21st January – 18th February)Intuitions and first impressions may be cloudedat the moment, so try to examine things from amore logical angle before making any judgementbased on “gut feelings”. Your intelligence willshine through.

Pisces (19th February – 20th March) Wrestlingwith moral questions and spiritual doubts weighheavily on your mind. Watch diet and exerciseand take care with routine work and hobbies.Don’t worry; you’ll make the right decision.

Lucky numbers for September are:26, 35, 17, 27, 37, and 47.

… and a thank-you to my favourite Scorpio-Stephen Hefford, without whose assistance, this

month’s column would not have been possible.

The Starry EyeThe Starry EyeThe Starry EyeThe Starry EyeThe Starry EyeBy Christine [email protected]

Thank Heavens! For all those who rememberthose pesky problems last month with travel andcommunications, Mercury in retrograde (the mis-chief-maker), finally leaves us on the third! The month ahead will be a good time to con-trol gambling impulses. However, September willalso be a very good time for romance and thebeginning of new friendships. Love is in the air!

Aries (21st March – 20th April) Control thosefiery impulses! Try not to quarrel at work or withfamily members. It’s a good time to look at re-newing long-term insurance, wills, mortgages orother finances. There is a possibility of discov-ering hidden money or resources.

Taurus (21st April – 21st May) Create and beau-tify! An attempt to improve feelings of posses-siveness towards family members will benefit all.Look into higher education and/or travel. Nowis a good time to learn a new language.

Gemini (22nd May – 21st June) It may be pru-dent to become more emotionally involved inyour career, and/or more aware of changes thatcould lead to greater status, and public recogni-tion. Success!

Cancer (22nd June – 22nd July) Take care tomaintain the oncoming flow of emotions in theweeks ahead; it’s a good time to take up humani-tarian or environmental work. It comes naturallyto you.

Leo (23rd July – 23rd August) Your organiza-tional skills and problem solving capabilities aregood but need to be worked upon or future self-esteem may suffer as a result. You’re a goodleader, keep it up.

Virgo (24th August – 22nd September) You mayfeel caged in this month, try not to let it upset

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