No Apologies Needed for this Reading

by Dan Davidson

Just before he came to be the latest Berton House writer in residence, Charles Wilkins was scheduled to be interviewed by Shelagh Rogers on “Sounds Like Canada.” The host had, he was told, read his book, Walk to New York, and had liked it.

This was good news, he told his audience at a public reading in the Dawson Community Library on February 15. He had once been scheduled to meet with Peter Gzowski on an earlier incarnation of CBC’s

Charles Wilkins gestures broadly to illustrate a point while reading. Photo by Dan Davidson

morning interview show, and Peter, too, had been reported as liking his book. On that occasion, the redoubtable Mr. Morningside was ill, however, and Wilkins met with an unprepared guest host.

Surely, he thought, lightning could not strike twice.

No such luck. The interview, which was broadcast on December 29, ended up being with Paul Grant, as Shelagh was ill that day.

From Wilkins’ reaction to the events was almost as if he thought he had somehow made Gzowski and Rogers ill - or as if he and CBC were somehow jinxed.

Now, it happens that I heard that particular interview, alerted by the name and my knowledge that he was on his way to Dawson, and it didn’t sound that bad at all. This might almost lead me to the conclusion that Wilkins is a bit of a pessimist when it comes to his own reception by others.

Certainly, he was most apologetic after he had kept his audience of a baker’s dozen or so spellbound and sometimes in stitches as he read from Walk to New York and from his work-in-progress on that night.

The Walk seems to have been almost a two man Canterbury Tales (his driver managed the travelling gear and set up nightly camps for him along the way), with Charles meandering from Thunder Bay to New York City while also taking a trip through his memories and associations, as well as bringing to the table those of others whom he met along the road.

One long and very amusing extract concerned his meeting with an elderly brother and sister in upstate New York and how they showed him their peculiar cache of gourmet roadkill.

Other portions of the book proved to be as thoughtful as this was humorous.

Wilkins told his audience that the book came about as a result of a need to do something after a marriage break-up, and that it was as much about his internal journey as the external one.

The work-in-progress is a memoir of his youth and of the strange times he had while working in a graveyard in Toronto. On one very odd day he and his fellows had to dig a grave by hand (not the usual method) in rain soaked earth where the groundwater was well above the six foot (two metre) level needed for the interment. The results were nothing short of hilarious.

In Dawson without a vehicle, Wilkins has done quite a bit of walking here as well: all over town in -40 to -50 weather, across the ice bridge, along the dyke, to a variety of social functions, daily to the library to manage his e-mail; out at night to see the Northern Lights and down to Front Street to watch the teams from the Yukon Quest arrive in town.

Wilkins has a week or so remaining in his Dawson sojourn, but he is already planning his return trip. He intends to arrive here with his children this summer to show them this place which he has found to be quite fascinating and unique in its charm.

Charles Wilkins hails from Thunder Bay and is the author of a dozen books, lots of magazine articles and numerous radio scripts for CBC. Among the books are: The Circus at the Edge of the Earth, about his travels with the Great Wallenda Circus; A Wilderness Called Home, about Canadians and their connections to the wilds; Walk to New York: A Journey Out of the Wilds of Canada; a children's book entitled Old Mrs. Schmatterbung & Other Friends; and a 1987 bestseller, Paddle to the Amazon, which he co-authored.

Media and Festival Stars on Ice(y Road)

Submitted by DCMF

Whitehorse CBC radio morning show hosts Dave White and Sandi Coleman threw down the hockey gauntlet by challenging Dawson City Music Festival to a game of Road Hockey. After many days of on-air banter, the hockey showdown was set for Thursday Feb. 17 at 5pm. The game was held in front of the DCMF office with CBC arriving late (Yukon Time) and sadly lacking in team members.

The CBC and DCMF crews posed for a photo after their scrimmage. Photo by Dan Davidson

They seemed to be packing more recording equipment than hockey gear where as DCMF had well over a dozen players clutching sticks and sporting DCMF 25th Anniversary hockey jerseys.

The nets were set up on 3rd Ave. while a crowd of well wishers including the Moore kids with a cow bell and the Social Services staff (in case things got ugly) stood in the cold to cheer the festival home team on.

CBC may have been lacking in players but the hard core tenacity of players like Sandi “snow bank” Coleman and Nancy “welt” Thompson made up for it! Those media gals ran hard and worked the DCMF players over with winning smiles and fancy stick handling.

But the match was not to be stolen by Whitehorse media types and DCMF ran away with the game.

DCMF star goalie and festival photographer Jay Armitage had plans for a shut out game, but did let in the occasional goal to keep the spirit of the game alive. Kudos to all the DCMF line for their outstanding play including Joe “big dog” McCann, “Killer” Kyla and “Nordic Chris” Evans.

It was a fun time with new friendships and grudges forged and cheesy trophies exchanged. Thanks for the round CBC!

With this win DCMF has defended the honor of arts groups everywhere and has proven once again the strength of a non-profit group is its volunteers!

Bridge Planning activity requires more drilling out on the frozen river. Photo by Dan Davidson

Ferry service assurance issued

press release in Whitehorse Star, Feb. 15/05

The Yukon government will take “every appropriate action” to ensure the timely movement of people and goods across the Yukon River at Dawson City this summer season.

The government made that assurance Monday in light of the Dawson City Chamber of Commerce’s decision to discontinue priority ferry passes.

“The Yukon government recognizes the value of priority river-crossing for Dawson residents,” Highways and Public Works Minister Glenn Hart said in a statement.“

Officials in the department are looking at ways to implement an alternative to the discontinued service for the people and businesses of Dawson.”

The line-up for the George Black ferry is often long during the height of the Dawson tourist season. In 1989, the chamber of commerce, with the government’s help, initiated a priority pass program to assist businesses and residents of West Dawson to cross the river.

As part of this year’s planning process for operating the ferry service, the department will include a program comparable to the existing service. It will also ensure continued priority for residents and commercial enterprises as operational requirements permit.

The department is developing a plan to minimize ferry service disruptions, should they occur during the start of bridge construction.