Women celebrating women in Whitewater Region on International Women’s Day

By CONNIE TABBERT

Editor

WHITEWATER REGION (Cobden)— Several women had the opportunity to learn about teaching in the northern reaches of Canada, in what is now known as Nunavut, in the mid-1970s; enjoy a 21-day European tour; and see what areas there are to explore on day trips in Whitewater Region and Renfrew County – all while sitting comfortably in the upstairs hall of the Cobden Legion.

The women were gathered to celebrate International Women’s Day on Friday, March 8. There was opportunity to socialize, enjoy coffee and tea, learn how to make a crab and a turtle with apples, and discover what this world has to offer them if they decide to go out and about.

The event was hosted and organized by Lara Mylly from the Whitewater Bromley Community Health Centre with help from Julia O’Ryan and Bernice Latreille. Ruth Douma provided beautiful edible art and centrepieces and Rolande Rozon provided hand-made soaps for each woman to take home.

Brenda Powers-Ross, director of Whitewater Bromley Community Health Centre (WBCHC), welcomed everyone to the event.

“International Women’s Day provides an important moment to showcase commitment to women’s equality, launch new initiatives and celebrate women’s achievements,” she said.

This day is celebrated throughout the world in many different ways, from small gatherings to large-scale events, celebrating International Women’s Day around the world.

“Together, every person and all groups can make a difference within their range of influence by taking action to help build a more gender-balanced world,” Ms. Powers-Ross said. “It’s a day for inspiration and change.”

Three local women were guest speakers for the morning’s event — Bernice Latreille, Lawrie and Cindy Jamieson.

Ms. Latreille spoke about her recent travels after winning a prize travel package from Heart and Stroke Lottery. She travelled with her family to Jamaica, a short trip to Poland, a cruise to Alaska and took a friend to Jamaica.

“But, the most amazing trip of all was a 21-day tour of Europe,” she said.

Throughout her tour, there was opportunity to tour Buckingham Palace and the Queen’s Gardens, which are “quiet and serene.” She went to the Imperial Palace in Brussels, Belgium followed by a stop in Amsterdam, where she went to a diamond factory. She brought laughter from the women when she said, “No, they did not give us samples.” There was a visit to a clog maker and she said, “It was very, very impressive” how he took a block of wood and made a clog.

In Holland she saw working windmills and “was impressed” with Germany where she “expected to see lots of concrete and buildings” but instead saw beautiful countryside. She cruised along the Rhine River and saw vineyards and castles. She had a wine tasting adventure in a 600-year-old building.

Ms. Latreille travelled up Mount Piladis in Switzerland and in Venice enjoyed a gondola ride. “You can’t be in Venice without a gondola ride,” she said. She saw a glass blowing demonstration and listened to an outdoor orchestra. Ms. Latreille said while listening to the orchestra, “a man came along and danced with me.”

She saw the Roman Coliseum and was amazed at the size and complexity, all constructed without the use of modern equipment. “It’s just mind-boggling,” she said.

The Vatican at St. Peter’s Square was “a busy, busy place.” She was inside the Cistine Chapel and could just imagine Michealangelo painting the ceiling and popes standing where she was standing.

Tuscany is beautiful and Ms. Latreille saw the Leaning Tower of Pisa. “It really is a marvel…and it’s still standing,” she said.

She fell in love with Monte Carlo and saw the plaque where Grace Kelly had her fatal accident. She also saw the Prince and Princess come out of the casino.

The Mediterranean Sea is amazing in that it has no tides. “It’s like a great, big bathtub.”

Laughing, she added, “I’m short a few million dollars to move there.”

She saw the Mona Lisa painting at the Louvre and saw the stage show Moulin Rouge.

“The costumes are elaborate,” Ms. Letreille said. “The women were bare breasted, but it was tastefully done.” She laughed as she added, “ They were small breasted so not a whole lot of bouncing going on.”

In Paris she saw the Eiffel Tower which was lit up and she went to the top and saw the City of Lights by night. She was in Versailles, France and saw all the houses where Marie Antoinette lived and while in Austria saw where the Sound of Music was filmed on the mountaintop and attended the opera while in Vienna.

In 1992, Lawrie Barton was going through a change in her life and decided it was time to leave the area and teach somewhere else. She began her adventure of teaching in the far north when she was hired by the Baffin Divisional Board of Education. She received a year’s leave of absence from the Renfrew County Board of Education, not realizing that it would be several years before she would return to this area.

“After the first year, I thought, ‘oh, I’m just getting my feet wet’,” she recalled. “I decided to stay for another year.”

When the third year finished, Ms. Barton knew she had a decision to make and decided not to return to Renfrew County.

“The land is mesmerizing,” she recalled. “I loved the people and I loved the land.”

Ms. Barton was also watching history unfold. In 1949, Inuit were scattered in small communities. Some lived in igloos, until the government said we want your children to go to school. They created communities and schools were built.

On April 1, 1999, Nunavut was declared a territory, Ms. Barton said.

There are 27 communities in Nunavut and in those communities, she lived in two of those communities while in that area.

She lived in Pangnirtung, where Auyuttiq National Park is. One of the scenes in Goldfinger, a James Bond film, there’s a skiing scene that was filmed in Auyuttiq Park, she said.

Ms. Barton lived in Pangnirtung for three years.

She recalled hosting her first International Women’s Day in Pangnirtung and believes it’s a tradition that continues on.

She showed some of the landscapes she saw over the years with many slides.

“For some reason, the people who do go to the Arctic and travel there become mesmerized by the land,” she said. “People will say ‘there’s no trees,’ but the landscape is, all I can say is, it attracts you. I could go out over the hill behind my community and walk and walk and walk and the feeling of forever space, for me, it was a wonderful feeling to be there.”

The other community Ms. Barton lived in was Arctic Bay, which is more north. One adventure she had was the opportunity to travel by dog team in 1999 on the land with a friend. While out she took the opportunity to stand almost on an iceberg, only to be told afterwards, that it wasn’t a good idea, because they can turn very quickly.

Ending her talk, Ms. Barton said on April 1, 1999, a choir she led performed when Nunavut became a territory.

“That was part of the celebration, I always led choirs up there, and we sang celebratory songs for Nunavut Day, which I’m very proud of,” she said.

Cindy Jamieson, an owner of Jamieson Tours in Beachburg, was the final guest, with the topic of Gems of the Ottawa Valley – Local attractions for perfect day trips.

She said many women were trailblazers before her, so her generation reaped their rewards. And now, it will continue on, as her seven-year-old daughter will reap from her trailblazing.

“I can see more positive than negative changes,” she said. “There have been some great advances, as anything in life, we need to keep working forward.”

It takes a confidence of being out of your home and comfort zone to travel, to leave your home and work elsewhere, she said.

“Having a confidence in you is what makes you go, is what makes you even move somewhere,” she said.

Ms. Jamieson said upon graduation from high school she travelled Europe for a year.

“It was an amazing year of exploring there and gave me a very big travel bug.”

She also represented Canada on a kayak team, travelling throughout the world and met athletes.

“Getting out and moving is fantastic, but you need a base of confidence to get there as well,” she said.

Ms. Jamieson said throughout the spring, summer and fall months, she always wanted to be in the Ottawa Valley.

“The main attraction for me is the warm waters we have, the lakes and rivers,” she said, adding with a laugh, “Glacier rivers suck, they are really cold. The ocean is very cold.”

She created Jamieson Tours with her father after graduating from Ottawa University and it has grown since.

She enjoys taking people from the valley out of the area, but takes extreme pleasure in bringing people into the Valley.

“We have so many of the same attractions that we travel to see or visit,” she said. “Europe is amazing, but what we have is very unique, it’s also very young and we are a raw country still.”

There is also lots of space, while in Europe there isn’t that space.

“My new venture is bringing people inbound,” she said.

She began offering cycle tours and has been promoting them which start in Beachburg and has various itineraries. When they do tours, the only thing they have to worry about is cycling – their luggage is moved for them to the various places they will stay, she explained. There will soon be opportunity to stay in what is now known as The Manse in Beachburg and day trips will be planned from there, but the guests return there each night.

There are many points of interest that many people aren’t even aware of, including those who have grown up here, she said. The people who travel here from other countries, think this area is amazing, Ms. Jamieson said.

“They love our big pines, they love the warm water, like the simplicity of food, the seasonal stuff that we have,” she said, adding, “The main thing that everyone loves about the valley are the beautiful, quiet roads.”

Ms. Jamieson then spoke about the many areas that can be explored in day trips. They are being promoted internationally and she recently attended a show that showcases what she would have to offer in this area.

“Germans love nature-based activities,” she said. “There are 80 million people living in Germany. We are only 33 (million). They like active travel and like small group things.”

She then showed points of interest and attractions for day trips in the valley on slides. Ms. Jamieson noted the photos she is showing are from cycling tours, but that’s because that’s what she loves to do. However, many of the points of interest can be done while driving as well.

“I’m trying to showcase the best things in five days that we have to offer,” Ms. Jamieson said.

Some of the points of interest include Lookout Park – a great place to watch a sunset, rafting the Ottawa River, riding and walking trails behind Whitewater Brewery on Grants Settlement Road, the PPJ Trail, Chutes in Colounge, the Bristo in Bryson, Oiseau Rock in Sheenboro, the Little Red Wagon Winery, Coronation Hall, Bonnechere Caves, Eagles Nest in Calabogie and Burnstown.

“I really do believe in the area,” Ms. Jamieson said.

Ending the event was a potluck lunch with a variety of foods to choose from.

Business owner Cindy Jamieson gave an informative talk about Gems in the Ottawa Valley.