Moose Factory Journal

Yesterday’s Sunday Morning Service was in The Old Church. The Congregation has been worshipping there since just after I had left for vacation in June. (We had a late, cold Spring.) Yesterday was my first time in The Old Church for quite some time.  Bobby led The Service over in Moosonee.

We prayed for Zachary — the lad who had drowned — as well as for others who had died over the last few weeks.  This coming Saturday I preside at a wedding. There will be two more in August. At least one child will be baptized next Sunday. There were only 45 of us in the Church yesterday. Many are still away on vacation and travels.  But regardless of the number of people in Church in a given Sunday, the issues of life and death go on.

Yesterday was overcast and hazy.  There was smoke in the air. This morning’s rising sun was beet red. Bobby tells me the ground is burning somewhere.

We are getting many clouds of bull flies. They are about half the size of a humming bird. They bite. Very nasty.

This morning, at dawn, we had 60 degrees with cloudy skies. Yesterday, which was overcast, saw us up to over 80 degrees. Friday morning dawned with clear skies and forty degrees.

It’s now Friday morning. I returned to Moosonee on last Monday’s train.  The train pulls into Moosonee around 4:30 PM. The last barge from Moosonee to Moose Factory departs Moosonee at 4 PM. That means that I have to stall a night in Moosonee before I can get the truck over to Moose Factory.  Last year I slept in the truck.  This year I slept in the basement of the Anglican Church in Moosonee.  I’m getting smarter; and the Church of the Apostles was very kind.

The barge, incidentally, is operated by the same company as the train — Ontario Northland.  The train company is the single one most compelling argument for a paved highway into Moosonee and bridge to Moose Factory.

Tuesday morning I was up early, as usual.  A little after six I ventured out.  I wanted to find out who, if anyone, also was lined up waiting for the morning barge.  Already there were several people standing around The River’s edge — and watching The River.  Then I saw an OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) vehicle.  Then I noticed several canoes and boats being put into The River. One was from the Fire Department’s Fire & Rescue. Obviously they were looking for someone.

It was an eleven year old boy. He had been out on The River, Monday afternoon, with his friends. At low tide they had gone out to a sandbar. After the tide had started to come back in they started to think about heading back. This one got into trouble in a deep stretch between the sandbar and the mainland where the current was brisk. His friends ran for help. But, of course, by then it was too late.

Christopher and his fiancee were over to the house last night. I’ll be doing their wedding in August. Christopher is a volunteer fireman in Moosonee.  He was one of the people who searched.  The drowning occurred late Monday afternoon.  The body was not found until about 9 PM on Tuesday — more or less in the same place. I asked Christopher how often something like this happens. ‘Every year.’

The current is just as treacherous over here on The Island. There was a moderately experienced canoeist, I’ve been told, who got lost not long before I arrived in 2002. He had been paddling — by himself — on the East side (my side) of The River.

The funeral for the youngster will be tomorrow, in Moosonee.