A meeting of the UCW in Cookstown
by Susan Stein

After the summer break, members met at the church hall on Wednesday, September 13. with Hattie Milne in chair and also helping out as recording secretary. The roll call was taken and the minutes of the last meeting of June 7 read.

Correspondence included thank you notes from Iva Robinson, the Glass family and Marion Hudson.

The treasurer's report, sent by Thelma Arnott, was very reassuring and at the next meeting donations will be discussed.

The next Presbyterial meeting will be at Stroud on October 2nd.

It was decided to invite the sister church in Angus for our Easter meeting.

Ten more hymn book supplement will be ordered. If you would like to get one, please let Hattie know.

Norma Currie took on the office of secretary, as Marion Hudson had to resign due to illness.

Programme convener Norma Currie opened the programme with singing hymn "Jesus Calls Us" and offered a prayer on all the blessings bestowed on us. Her theme was on the word "Mindful". What's on your mind? family, country, events, daily problems?

From the Scriptures she read Psalm 8 and form the New Testament verses from Phillipians.

Following of singing hymn God! As with Silent Hearts with Joan Jebb accompaniment at the piano, Hattie took over with her travelogue. With her slides and commentary, members followed her trip with Hamilton Tours destination : the Polar Bear Express.

Her group started out from Barrie, lunch in North Bay. Then stopping at the Heritage Park, where all felt like children, riding on the old-fashioned Merry Go Round. The night was spent at New Liskell and next day driving through dairy farm country and a tour at the Belle Valley Wool Mill. It was in 1865, that the sheep farm was started with now 102 ewes lambing, brining to the market Canadian lamb and adding to the roster of sheep, needed in the Wool Processing plant, established in 1989. First comes the shearing done in summer, then the wool is washed, dried, spun into yarn for weaving of lovely mats, shawls, etc.

On to Cochrane for an over night stay and a visit to the Polar Bear Enclosure, where two female twins and one big male are living, showing off their beauty behind glass walls. There is also the possibility to swim in a little pool adjacent to the bears.

Early next morning, it was time to board the Polar Bear Express to Moosonee. A guide, who has the experience of eight years, joined the group on the school bus, explaining and telling them about the life and history on this northern outpost, established by the Hudson Bay Company. Of interest was to see the new Highschool, to which students from the island Moose Factory are bussed over the,when it freezes up in winter and flown in by helicopter during snow storms. Most impressive was to see the Anglican church Christ Cathedral with her stained glass windows depicting moose, fish and native interpretation of the birth of

Christ. The paint was infused in the glass before cutting.The church was first named St. Katari and a Jesuit priest held the service, teaching the native people in their Cree language. It was during a flood,that the church nearly floated away; To protect it, holes were drilled in the floor to drain the water. Pews ar e painted green and more colour is added to the interior with beautiful beaded altar cloth and coverings in the sanctuary, made by the native people on moose hide. Pope John Paul visited that church .

Moose Factory has also a large hospital, serving the whole area. All sings are in three languages: Cree, English and French. .

On the way home, the group stopped in Sudbury for a visit to the Big Nickel, where a 3rd generation miner showed them around. Much of the work, done before by mines, is now done by computers. "Science North" was the next stop and then rest at Timmins, home of the popular Shania Twain.

The meeting concluded

with a delicious lunch, prepared by Norma and Iva.