Comments for Mining towns in Canada

Comment on A Milestone by littlepatti

littlepatti — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:42:33 +0000

TO Maureen:
PS-Check out my Blog Roll- Right hand side of my site. Like…Aboard the Nikan and Heather Off Photography, etc. Good reading!

Comment on A Milestone by littlepatti

littlepatti — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:39:17 +0000

Hi Maureen,
Thanks! Keep reading and yes, please pass it along, and I just love getting comments. I understand that Ann’s father or brother is the Mayor in Chib. now. We remember “Daddy” Bubar with fondness. He worked at the mine site at the same time we did, and lived on the Point, next to Doug’s family.
For a short period of time we lived at your Merril Island house…I paid you 0.25 cents a day to make my bed!!! Do you remember that? Talk about child exploitation. Man! We were poorly equipped to be married back then. Ha Ha
I’ll write to Rick. He’s living in NB, a fine family man. Still a really nice guy! (2 kids: both professionals- Crystal is a Doctor of Naturopathic medicine, Rob is an Electrician, plus air & water quality expert, in the oil fields in AB).

Comment on A Milestone by Maureen

Maureen — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:46:36 +0000

Hi Pat,

Maureen here, Betty’s sister. Just want to say thanks for the memories and your well spun tales. You provide us readers with countless, (been there done that experiences).

Please keep us reliving our past and present joys and oops’s through your narratives.

Say hi to your brother Ricky for me. I am going to send your site on to Ann Bubar now Babin who still lives in Chibougamau.

Blog on,
maureen

Comment on Quebec Copper, Eastman, Quebec by littlepatti

littlepatti — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:02:15 +0000

I have read your message over and over and certainly recall the names Ernest & Clement. I believe there was a little grocery store right on the main street in front of rue Des Pins, and we would be driven from the mine site, to the store, to catch our school bus to Waterloo. Where did you go to school?
It seems to me all the kids in Eastman went to Waterloo High school. We were Catholics, but our parents always paid school fees for us to go to Protestant schools. In most remote mining towns there were no English/Catholic schools, I guess.
At that age 11-14, we are in a world of our own that contains our friends, Elvis, The Everley Brothers, & Fats Domino and we don’t pay much attention to what our parents are doing, after deciding whatever anyone over 25 is doing is pretty stupid!
I sure wish I had paid attention.
On second thought, I sure wish my parents were here right now…I have many curiosities. They would be about 97 now, so considerably older than your dad.

Comment on A Milestone by littlepatti

littlepatti — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 16:45:10 +0000

60! You are a mere “babe in the woods.” I am sure those turning 80 today are envious of your youthful enthusiasm, and probably wonder “why the angst?”
Have a great one…every day is a gift.

Comment on A Milestone by Wanda P.

Wanda P. — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:38:38 +0000

Well my friend you are so very right! I have a milestone birthday coming up this weekend…I will be sixty! Now I don’t feel sixty… but then I not really sure what sixty feels like since I’m not quite there yet…and once it does arrive, it will no doubt feel just the same as 59 and 49 did…except I will now qualify for free cheques at the bank…Wowee!

Other than that…the same SH– will go on as per usual. This is to wish you and yours (all of them) a wonderful Christmas, and great New Year. Lots of milestones coming up for you as Serena…starts high school in 2010.

A very big hug to everyone.
Love ya!
W.

Comment on Quebec Copper, Eastman, Quebec by Robert Brault

Robert Brault — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:06:35 +0000

Littlepatti,
As a matter of fact, my grandfather lived on the road to the mine. Today, It is a street in the middle of the village called rue des Pins. My father and his brother both worked at the mine, Ernest and Clement. My grandfather Thomas owned the town garage. I’ll find some picture for you…! The garage did automotive repairs, welding, body shop, towing and general repairs for the mine. Back in the days, you had to be versatile I guess. On my mother’s side, they were a family from Montreal (Giroux) that moved to Eastman and opened a General store L. P. Giroux Marchand General. Louis Phillip died at a very young age (32) and my grandmother Bertha Giroux continued on with the business while raising 4 kids on her own. She remarried lather in life to Euclid Turcotte. She later sold the family business and it became the Meli Melo store while the Fontaine family took over the grocery side of the business. The building vanished in flames some 35 years ago. On the Brault side, the building is still standing and it became the Depaneur Eastman located next to Bovila, a popular fast food restaurant. Both my parents are from Eastman and migrated to Montreal for work. I was born in the City but could never call it home. I spent as much time as possible with my grandmother in Eastman. Lather I lived at my ant place (same house) and bought a summer place at 19. Today I go back almost every week in the summer. One day, I’ll move there. For me, Eastman is home.
I’ll ask about the dog. Maybe my father would have known your relatives. I didn’t get their last name, if you don’t mind sharing I’ll ask Ernest!!! He is 82 but still has a pretty good memory, mostly for the older days.
Joyeux Noel!!!
Robert Brault

Comment on Quebec Copper, Eastman, Quebec by littlepatti

littlepatti — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:53:59 +0000

Hi,
I seem to remember the name “Brault”. If your Dad worked at the mine or was around Eastman at that time, he may remember my father, Elmer.
Could you have lived on the road to the mine? Did we get our dog Teddy from your family?
Many thanks for your information. Every bit helps to paint the picture of mining in those days.
You may find photos of Elmer & Mary in earlier posts “Central Patricia” etc.
Best regards for the new year!
Pat

Comment on Quebec Copper, Eastman, Quebec by Robert Brault

Robert Brault — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 01:15:55 +0000

Bonjour Littlepatti / Jean-Claude and all others who took interest in this blog. I was drawned to these communications as I was searching for information on the Quebec Cooper Mining Corporation. I was having a conversation with my father yesterday and I will see him again tomorrow for X-mass. He remember a lot about the mine. By the way, the coper mine road entrance is that street leading to the camping. This continues in the back but it’s all grown now. You can access by the old shaft road the will lead you directly to where there are tailing residues. Also, yes there are entrence to the mine. it is cimented and there is a large round ciment cap on it. By now you can figure that I am one of those kids that was playing in it. Nothing much to see except for baths. The QCMC did terminate operation in 1957 because their Tax exemption became issues. The mine still contains more then 2/3 of it’s content but it is very expensive to exploit as this is considered as a wet mine. Ho ya, the lake is called long lake (lac long) and carried the same name back in the day.
Robert Brault

Comment on The Perfect Gift by littlepatti

littlepatti — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:40:26 +0000

Many thanks for your kind reply, and all the best in the New Year. A turn of the decade: It’s like cracking open a new book…